Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Sunday 29 September 2002, at about 1240, express freight Train F8829 derailed near Waikokopu, between Wairoa and Gisborne when eight wagons loaded with fertiliser dropped between the running rails while negotiating a tight radius curve. There were no injuries. The safety issues identified included: ·the ability of the inspection regime to monitor a known track defect and take timely corrective action ·the absence of standards to define life expired track assets ·the over-loading of wagons conveying fertiliser on the Napier-Gisborne track section.

On Saturday 31 August 2002 at about 1515, Train 9351, a Tranz Metro Johnsonville to Wellington electric multiple unit passenger service collided with Train 3647, a Tranz Metro Upper Hutt to Wellington electric multiple unit passenger service, as both trains were approaching the Wellington platforms on converging tracks. There were no injuries to passengers or crew and only minor damage to the trains. The safety issues identified included the well-being of the electric multiple unit driver of Train 9351 and his resulting capacity to recognise and respond to a danger signal indication.

On Friday 30 August 2002 at 2120, ZK-NBS (flight NZ 2), a Boeing 747-419, took off from runway 23 at Auckland International Airport for Los Angeles. On board were 355 passengers and 17 crew, including 3 pilots on duty in the cockpit.

On 29 August 2002, an incident occurred at Maimai when a locomotive engineer was authorised by train control to enter a section of track already occupied by a rail contractor. The locomotive engineer saw the contractor and stopped the train short of the work site.

On Wednesday 7 August 2002, at about 1335, train control gave authority for westbound express freight Train 484 to depart Tauranga and enter a section of track already occupied by a hi-rail vehicle travelling towards the train. Some minutes after the train departed, the train controller in-training realised he had set up a potential collision so he contacted the locomotive engineer and instructed him to stop the train. When the train stopped, about 300 m separated the train and the hi-rail vehicle. The safety issues identified included:

On Wednesday 31 July 2002, at about 1040, express freight Train 328 passed 6 Signal, Te Rapa, at stop. The train then ran through No. 2 points at Te Rapa, set in the reverse position, and travelled a further 9 km on the North Island Main Trunk up main before being stopped at Horotiu. A hi-rail excavator working on track between Te Rapa and Horotiu had just cleared the track before the train passed through the work area. A safety issue identified was the probable fatigue-related performance impairment of the locomotive engineer leading to his loss of situational awareness.

On Friday, 26 July 2002, at about 0150, Train 533, a westbound express freight, derailed as it negotiated a 45 km/h speed restricted curve after descending a 1 in 51 gradient between Whangamomona and Te Wera. The train plunged about 12 m down the side of the track formation killing the locomotive engineer. A second crew member sustained serious injuries. The 2 locomotives and several wagons on the train were extensively damaged, but the track sustained minor damage only. Causal factors included:

On Sunday 14 July 2002, at about 1830, the coastal cargo ship "Kent" parted a mooring line while attempting to berth in storm force winds at Glasgow Wharf in Wellington Harbour. Subsequently, as the ship was proceeding back out into the harbour, it struck a pontoon and was holed below the waterline in way of the engine room. The engine room progressively flooded and the ship lost all power. The "Kent" anchored near Point Jerningham before being towed to the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where repairs were affected and the engine room pumped out. Safety issues identified included:

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

On Monday 24 June 2002, at about 0730, Air Napier PA31-310 Navajo ZK-NPR was on a freight flight from Palmerston North when the pilot had to make an emergency landing at Napier because the right undercarriage was unable to be extended. The landing was successful, with moderate damage to the aircraft and no injury to the pilot. The right undercarriage had failed to extend because the uplock hook could not release the undercarriage leg. This resulted from a flat oleo strut becoming compressed, and was a previously unknown design deficiency.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

On Wednesday 12 June 2002 at about 1308, a partially-sighted passenger fell from the doorway of Train 2643 while alighting at Silverstream. The train, an Upper Hutt to Wellington Tranz Metro electric multiple unit service, had stopped at the platform but the last doorway of the rear passenger car, from which the passenger fell, was positioned off the north end of the platform. The passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The safety issue identified was the berthing of electric multiple unit passenger services at suburban stations.