Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Thursday 15 April 2004 at about 0215, the fishing vessel "Poseidon" grounded on a beach north of Manukau Heads while on passage from fishing grounds off Kawhia to Onehunga. The skipper was able to transmit a mayday call and the crew were winched off the vessel by rescue helicopter. On the evening of 16 April 2004 a salvage team refloated the "Poseidon". There were no injuries. The vessel suffered extensive damage to its hull and fitments. Safety issues identified included: • the lack of a watchkeeping monitor alarm for a single-handed wheelhouse operation

A freight train hauling 36 wagons derailed soon after leaving Glenbrook for Mount Maunganui. Nobody was hurt, but there was extensive damage to the track, wagons and steel freight, and the line was closed for 3.5 days. The Commission found that brakes had failed because operating staff didn’t configure them correctly. Key learnings include the need for operating staff to follow established procedure and stay alert when working shifts.

On Sunday 15 February 2004 at about 1655, the coastal passenger and freight ferry "Arahura" rolled heavily while altering course to enter Wellington Harbour. Damage was sustained to several vehicles on the car and rail decks and to 3 electronic games machines on the passenger decks. Injuries sustained by the passengers were confined to minor scrapes and contusions. Safety issues identified included: · securing of vehicular cargo on car and rail decks · securing of heavy items of equipment in passenger accessible areas

[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.]

New Zealand has completed its support for this inquiry. Please note, TAIC will not be producing a report for this inquiry.

[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 Friday 5 January 2007, at about 2200, the leading bogie of UK6765, the rear wagon on Christchurch to Picton express freight Train 736, derailed at 309.643 kilometres (km) on the Main North Line. The derailed wagon was dragged a further 3.5 km until it struck the south end main line points at Vernon, derailing the wagon immediately in front. The derailed wagons were pulled another kilometre before the locomotive engineer became aware of the derailed wagons and brought the train to a stop. There were no injuries.

On Monday 4 June 2001 at about 1715, ZK-HJH, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter, was approaching Taumarunui when it was seen to enter a turn and fall to the ground, killing the 3 occupants. The helicopter was observed to break up before it hit the ground. This report summarises the results of a resumed investigation of the event and supersedes the original report (Report 01 005).

On Friday 20 July 2001, at around 0450, Partenavia P68B ZK-DMA was abeam North Shore Aerodrome at 5000 feet in darkness and enroute to Whangarei, when it suffered a double engine power loss. The pilot made an emergency landing on runway 21 at North Shore Aerodrome, but the aircraft overran the end of the runway, went through a fence, crossed a road and stopped in another fence. The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft and received face and ankle injuries.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced an investigation and requested assistance from TAIC as an Accredited Representative in accordance with Annex 13 to the ICAO Convention. A fatal accident occurred on 16 June 2017, involving an Australian-registered Fletcher aeroplane near Bathurst, Australia. The aeroplane was manufactured in New Zealand. The aeroplane was involved in aerial agricultural operations when it collided with terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the aeroplane destroyed. [As initially reported, subject to change, not official findings.]

TAIC provided support for this overseas inquiry. This support is now complete. TAIC will not produce a report for this inquiry. This is a responsibility of Panama authorities.

On Tuesday 14 January 2003, at about 2220, Life Flight Trust BK-117 helicopter ZK-III was on a night VFR flight from Wellington Hospital to Masterton Hospital to pick up an injured patient for an emergency medical transfer. After inadvertently overflying a waypoint by a short distance towards high terrain, the pilot began an emergency climb through cloud. During this climb the helicopter collided with trees, but was flown on to an emergency landing at Masterton. The helicopter sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received a serious hand injury. The other occupants were uninjured.