Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Tuesday 18 February 2003, at about 1530, as the spectator fleet proceeded back towards Auckland Harbour after race 3 of the America’s Cup regatta, the pleasure launch "Barossa" and the passenger trimaran "Triptych" collided in the vicinity of the entrance to the Rangitoto Channel. There were 10 people on board the Barossa, and 7 crew and 64 passengers on board the "Triptych". During the collision 3 of those on the launch fell or jumped into the sea but they were rescued by other craft.

[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.]

Between 21 June 2008 and 7 May 2009, 3 express freight trains derailed at various locations on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) line. All 3 derailments were caused by the failure and collapse of bogie side frames on wagons. The side frame failures were all similar in that they started with a fatigue crack that propagated over a period of days rather than weeks, through the box section of the side frame, until the remaining material failed in overload during normal train operations.

At 1555 on Friday 26 October 2007, Cessna A152 ZK-KID was on a cross-country navigation training flight when it entered a narrow and rising valley at low level from which escape was impossible. As the instructor attempted to manoeuvre out of the valley, the aircraft struck several trees. The instructor was killed and the student suffered serious injuries, but was able to walk out and summon assistance.

[Investigation incorporated in report 04-130. Please refer to that report.]

On Thursday 6 July 2000 at about 0915, Aoraki Balloon Safaris Aerostar S81A hot air balloon ZK-SKY was on a local flight in good weather near Methven with 13 passengers and 2 crew. During a go-around following a missed approach to land, the balloon descended to a position where a power line could not be avoided. After contacting the earth wire the balloon could not be climbed clear, so it was descended between the live power conductors underneath, to land without injury or damage.

On Tuesday 12 November 2002, at 2338, ZK-FMW, a Piper PA34-200T Seneca II, was returning to Ardmore Aerodrome with the pilot and 3 passengers on board. While landing on the lighted runway, the aircraft’s undercarriage began to collapse. The aircraft scraped along the runway for a short distance before veering off the side of the runway and on to grass. The occupants were unhurt and vacated the aircraft unassisted. The aircraft was substantially damaged.

The Commission found that the fire was seated amongst bales of polypropylene bags that were stored in the fishmeal bagging room, but was unable to establish with any certainty what started the fire. The Commission also found that the Amaltal Columbia's design and systems for the prevention, detection, containment and fighting of a fire met the standards of the applicable maritime rules; however, there were some aspects that could have been improved, and the consequences of the fire could have been lessened, with a more risk-based approach to operations.

The historic fighter aircraft was being flown from Wanaka to Auckland to take part in an Air Display. A brief landing was planned at Woodbourne to refuel. The pilot made a standard approach to grass runway 07 with allowance for the light crosswind. Shortly after a normal touchdown, an unexpected gust caused a swing to the right. Braking action was uneffective on the wet grass and the pilot applied power for a go-around, but the aircraft slid sideways and the left undercarriage collapsed at the edge of the asphalt taxiway which crossed the grass runway at right angles.

After boarding six passengers for a river rafting trip the pilot lifted off the hillside helipad. While commencing to move forward he allowed main rotor torque to turn the helicopter to the left but found that full right pedal was insufficient to stop the rotation to the left. An attempt to achieve forward speed by use of the cyclic control was unsuccessful and after about four rotations the helicopter collided with the hillside, rolled over rearwards and came to rest inverted. Four of the passengers sustained minor injury.

On Tuesday 19 October 2004 at about 1018, the passenger freight ferry "Aratere" was transiting Queen Charlotte Sound after departing Picton when it lost all power. After a few minutes, emergency power was restored and the master navigated safely down the sound until full manoeuvring power was restored. The master then conned the vessel back to Picton to effect repairs to one of the diesel generators. Safety issues identified included: - procedures covering the replacement of diesel generator cylinder heads

On Monday 28 June 2004, at about 0710, the power generator unit at the rear of passenger express Train 1605 caught fire as the train berthed at Carterton Station. The train manager expended one of 3 fire extinguishers carried on board the train to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries to passengers or crew. Safety issues identified included: - the layout of the generator enclosure - the installation of the fire detection and suppression system. Three safety recommendations were made to the Chief Executive of Toll NZ Consolidated Limited to address these issues.