Fatal crash pilot's escape training 'old'

A pilot who died inside a helicopter after ditching into the ocean off Western Australia had last completed underwater escape training in 2009, the ATSB says.

A helicopter pilot who died after crashing into the ocean off Western Australia's Pilbara coast had last completed underwater escape training nine years earlier, investigators have found.

Brett Gallard, 44, had been recently employed by Mackay Helicopters and was flying under the supervision of a training and checking pilot when the chopper ditched into the ocean about 30km off Port Hedland as it approached a bulk carrier in March.

His 64-year-old colleague escaped the inverted helicopter, activated an emergency beacon, set off four flares and was rescued from a life raft shortly after the crash.

But Mr Gallard did not emerge and his body was found inside the wreckage on the seabed three days later.

In preliminary findings released on Thursday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said Mr Gallard had last completed underwater escape training in February 2009 while his colleague had done it in September 2015.

The men were on their way to pick up a marine pilot, who witnessed the crash, and transfer him from the bulk carrier back to land.

They had completed three flights earlier that evening, which were Mr Gallard's first night-time marine pilot transfers to Port Hedland.