Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

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.

On Thursday 15 June 2000 at around 1400, ZK-RCA, a Metro III, landed on runway 14 at Gisborne Aerodrome at which time its left undercarriage drag braces both failed, causing the left undercarriage to collapse aft. A go-around was carried out and the aircraft flown to Hamilton Aerodrome for a wheels-up landing. The 2 pilots on board the aircraft were not injured.

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

On Saturday 7 July 2001, at about 1900, express freight Train 842 derailed in the Otira Tunnel. The leading locomotive derailed 2 axles at a failed rail joint which had been installed as a temporary repair for a fractured rail found on Thursday 5 July. There were no injuries. Safety issues identified included: • the suitability of the standards for temporary track repairs • the frequency of inspection of temporary track repairs • the monitoring and control of rail top wear in the Otira Tunnel • the damp contaminated ballast condition throughout the tunnel

On 10 May 2010, a light helicopter and a light aeroplane, both of which were being used for dual pilot training, had a near-collision overhead New Plymouth Aerodrome.

New Zealand has completed its support for this inquiry. TAIC will not be producing a report on this inquiry. A copy of the report produced by the National Transportation Safety Board can be found on the link in the sidebar to the right.

[No report published - TAIC asked to assist investigation by National Transportation Safety Board USA into the incident.]

On Saturday 26 August 2006, at 0907, the lead bogie on passenger Train 9328 derailed when it ran into landslide debris covering the track at 2.474 kilometres (km) on the Johnsonville Line between Wellington and Wadestown. Heavy rain had been falling in the area prior to the derailment. There were no injuries and only minor damage to the train and track. Safety issues identified included: regolith nature of the steep terrain above the Johnsonville Line train control role and responsibilities routine and special track inspections on the Johnsonville Line

[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.]