Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

The pilot and passenger departed from Ardmore Aerodrome in Robinson helicopter ZK-HYX for a 20 minute local flight. The aircraft failed to return. Later in the day the wreckage of ZK-HYX was located in a bush covered gully. The pilot and passenger had received fatal injuries in the accident.

On Saturday 28 March 1998 at 1707 hours Train 201, the southbound Auckland to Wellington Overlander passenger express, struck a displaced load on Train 242, a Wellington to Palmerston North express freight train which was berthed in the Longburn loop. There were no injuries. Train 201 suffered superficial damage to the locomotive and carriages. Safety deficiencies identified were: · the lack of appreciation of correct load securing requirements · insufficient training of staff involved in loading

At 1824 hours on Thursday 4 September 1997 Shunt M28 from Morrinsville to Te Rapa collided with an "A Train" milk tanker and trailer on a private level crossing, resulting in serious injury to the tanker driver.

On Sunday, 16 July 1995 at about 2125 hours the fishing trawler "Awanui 6129" capsized while its crew were attempting to manoeuvre it across the Westport Bar, inbound. The two crew members lost their lives and the boat was declared a total constructive loss. Safety issues identified included measures necessary to avoid succumbing to the dangers involved in crossing bar harbours in adverse conditions.

The log carrier Funing was departing port when its main engine failed. Drifting in the current, its propeller and rudder tangled in a buoy mooring chain. A fuel injection unit had seized due to coking debris caused by low-viscosity low-sulphur fuel. Ship’s crew unaware of latest maintenance guidance about effect of low-sulphur fuel on engine. Key issues: engine maintenance, tug assistance, crew resource management.

A passenger train collided with a truck, fatally injuring the truck driver. Truck had stopped but phone call distracted truck driver, who reduced pressure on brake and truck moved onto track. TAIC calls for formal determinations whether to implement level crossing safety recommendations; and a formal approach to prioritise upgrades for highest risk level crossings.

Bus drove into side of locomotive at level crossing. Bus driver fatally injured. Bus driver likely expected empty tracks and drove to go straight across. Did not notice in time that lights and bells were active. TAIC calls for NZTA to review road rule, consult rail sector, consider all risks for level crossing risks – especially those near road intersections.

Railway track workers were at risk when a train approached in what they thought was a protected work area. Administrative procedures like forms and radio calls are not enough to mitigate this sort of risk. Everyone involved in workplace safety needs to communicate clearly. TAIC recommends KiwiRail improve engineering failsafes to mitigate risk of human error.

On Tuesday, 26 November 1996, at about 1326 hours, the restricted-limit fishing charter boat "Lambo" shipped waves through an open foredeck hatch, flooded and capsized in rough seas. The skipper and four passengers on board were rescued from the capsized boat without injury. A safety issue identified was the failure to heed an accurate weather forecast before embarking on the trip.

On Monday, 11 November 1996, at about 0820 hours, the charter launch "Toroa" collided with a rock off Castle Head near the entrance to Port Hardy, D'Urville Island. Five of the nine passengers on board received slight to moderate injuries in the collision. Visibility was good and the sea conditions calm. The collision was caused by the inadvertent moving of the second steering wheel fitted to the boat, at a time when the progress of the "Toroa" was not being monitored adequately. A safety issue was the accessibility of the second steering wheel to unauthorised persons.

On Tuesday, 20 August 1996, at approximately 1730 hours, the longline fishing vessel "Warlock" was overcome by seas near the entrance to Tauranga Harbour and subsequently washed up onto Mount Maunganui Beach. The two crew members on board lost their lives and the vessel was extensively damaged in the accident. The cause of the accident was not identified conclusively.

On Saturday, 2 March 1996, at approximately 1230 hours, the rigid inflatable passenger craft "Uruao", while engaged on a whale-watching trip off Kaikoura Peninsula, suffered a catastrophic failure of the bags that secured her buoyancy pontoons in place and capsized approximately three minutes later. One passenger was trapped under the capsized craft and drowned. The causal factor was the loss of stability experienced when all four buoyancy pontoons were lost. Safety issues identified included maintenance procedures and stability requirements for rigid inflated craft.