Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Friday 7 January 2005, at 1852, ZK-KFB, a Gulfstream G-IV, and ZK-FTR, a Piper PA 28, came into close proximity 10 nautical miles south of Taupo Aerodrome, during their instrument approaches to the aerodrome. On board ZK-KFB were 5 passengers, a flight attendant and 2 pilots. On board ZK-FTR were a passenger and the pilot.

On 30 March 2009 at 2340, a Fairchild SA227-AC Metroliner III air ambulance aeroplane, registered ZK-NSS, took off from Auckland International Airport on a night flight to New Plymouth Aerodrome to uplift a patient. On board were 2 pilots and a medical team of 3. The flight was without incident until the approach at New Plymouth. The pilots carried out a visual approach, although that was generally not permitted by the aeroplane

[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.]

[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.]

The aircraft was on an approach when a yaw to the right occurred which was accompanied by a loud bang. The pilot lowered the collective and made an autorotation onto uneven ground. A laboratory inspection of the tail rotor components indicated that the tail rotor teeter bolt had failed in flight. As the bolt was lost the cause of the failure was not established.

On Wednesday 31 May 1995 at about 0400 hours the Te Rapa North Shunt operated by New Zealand Rail Limited was shunting at Frankton. The Senior Shunter in charge of movements was riding on the footplate on the rear of the locomotive when he lost his footing and fell under the single attached wagon. The Senior Shunter was seriously injured. The causal factor was the Senior Shunter's loss of balance while attempting to read the wagon destination card during the shunting movement.

On Saturday 17 April 2005 at about 1205, the Black Cat with a Master, a deckhand and 31 passengers on board was on a cruise around the lower reaches of Akaroa Harbour. As they approached the shore in Seal Bay, the Master put both engines astern, but a control failure caused the starboard engine to go ahead and the boat to collide with the natural rock wall. The impact was such that the bow bounced off, which allowed the boat to continue back into clear water.

On Thursday 21 November 2002 at about 0938, the bulk cement carrier "Westport" collided stern first with the Old Mangere Bridge when the controllable pitch propeller mechanism failed during departure from Onehunga. Both the ship and the bridge suffered extensive damage. The safety issues identified included: · the adequacy of knowledge of default conditions for the system · the adequacy of knowledge of correct operating pressures for the controllable pitch propeller. Safety recommendations were made to the General Manager of Holcim (New Zealand) Limited to address the safety issues.

At approximately 1010 hours on Thursday, 4 May 2000, Y35 shunt overran its track warrant limit at Mataura by 15 km. There was no opposing traffic. Safety issues identified included: • the need for better communication between train controllers and remote control operators when track warrants issued for main line shunts did not reflect work-between localities requested • the need for more effective ways of communicating, and monitoring compliance with, amendments to rules and regulations to improve safety

The helicopter was departing for the first heliski trip of the day with a guide and four clients on board. It had reached a height of about 200 feet, and airspeed was increasing above 35 knots, when the engine failed. The pilot lowered collective, maintained forward speed and set up an autorotative descent to the large snow covered paddock below. The helicopter contacted the ground heavily, collapsing the skids, and slid some 60m in the soft snow before coming to rest upright. The occupants were uninjured.

On Saturday 19 May 2001, at 1450, Boeing 767-319 ZK-NCH was on approach to land at Auckland International Aerodrome when a section of a wing flap deflection control track separated from the aeroplane. The 3 kg section penetrated the roof of an occupied warehouse and fell to the floor without causing personal injury. The crew of ZK-NCH were unaware of the event and continued with a successful landing.