On 2 April 2005, a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sea King helicopter from HMAS Kanimbla crashed on the Indonesian island of Nias when approaching the village of Amandraya, at approximately 7:30 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time). The aircrew and seven members of the Australian Defence Force Joint Medical Element were undertaking an operation to provide humanitarian relief and medical treatment to the victims of the earthquake of 28 March 2005 off the west coast of Sumatra.

Of the 11 military personnel on board, nine were killed in the accident. Two injured personnel underwent treatment on board the Kanimbla. A report into the crash found the main reason for the accident was that a nut and split pin in the helicopter's flight controls were incorrectly fitted. It also found that the squadron responsible for the helicopter's maintenance routinely took shortcuts. The Department of Defence advises it implemented all 256 recommendations from the report, including aviation maintenance regulations and a major review of airworthiness.