Inquiries & Recommendations

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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.

On Wednesday 19 April 2006 at about 0005, the fishing boat "Venture" grounded on the beach at the base of a small cliff just to the north of Tipi Bay in Tory Channel while on passage from Picton to Oamaru. After checking the watertight integrity of the boat, the skipper attempted to re-float the boat but was unsuccessful. As the boat was in no immediate danger and the crew had suffered no injuries, the skipper decided to wait until daylight before summoning assistance. The crew of a passing ferry noticed the boat aground and reported the incident to Picton harbour radio.

[Investigation incorporated in report 04-123. Please refer to that report.]

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

On 27 February 2016, the bulk carrier Mount Hikurangi had just completed loading a cargo of logs at the port of Tauranga. The ship's crew were involved in applying chain lashings to the logs that had been loaded above deck when a deck cadet fell from the stack of logs 10 metres onto the wharf below, then into the sea. The deck cadet did not survive this fall. His body was recovered by divers a number of hours later. The deck cadet was not wearing a safety harness attached to a fall arrestor while working close to the edge of the log stack, despite a company requirement to do so.

On Friday 23 March 2001, at 0705, Hughes 369D helicopter ZK-HMN experienced an engine flameout as the pilot applied collective control normally to arrest the helicopter’s descent. The pilot landed the helicopter in trees on a mountain slope at about 3000 feet, some 12 km northwest of Milford Sound. The pilot and the crew member on board the helicopter were uninjured.

On Sunday 24 April 2005 at about 1150, the coastal passenger and freight ferry Arahura was approaching the entrance to Tory Channel while on passage between Wellington and Picton when it sustained a major loss of propulsion power. The Master was able to abort the entrance into Tory Channel and con the ship safely back into open water where the Arahura remained until power was restored. The Master then conned the ship to Picton, via the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, where repairs were effected to one of the diesel generators. Safety issues identified included:

On Tuesday 30 April 2002, at about 1630, New Zealand Helicopters Hughes 369D helicopter ZK-HRV was being flown on a scenic passenger flight from Mount Tarawera to the company base near Rotorua when engine trouble arose. Before the pilot could land the helicopter, the engine failed and he was forced to make an auto-rotational landing on difficult terrain, where the helicopter rolled over. None of the 4 occupants was injured in the accident. The engine failed from oil starvation, following a fracture of a fitting in the oil line to the torque gauge.

[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 1 July 2009, an elderly male passenger who was vision-impaired had just alighted from passenger Train 8125 on the Down platform at Newmarket West station. He was walking along the platform as the train left and he veered into the side of the moving train, spun around and fell through the gap between the train and the platform edge onto the track below. The passenger was fatally injured. No conclusive reason for the passenger veering into the side of the train could be established, but it was likely related to his impaired vision or, distraction, or a combination of both.