Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Wednesday 5 October 2005, at 1441, ZK-MCJ, an Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 72-212A, landed at Queenstown Aerodrome, where it inadvertently left the runway. On board were 47 passengers and 2 cabin crew, and 2 pilots and a maintenance engineer on the flight deck. There were no injuries, and no damage to the aeroplane.

[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 Sunday 18 September 2005, the "Milford Mariner" was on a cruise of Milford Sound with the Master, 9 crew and 56 passengers on board. At about 1438, both of the ship’s main propulsion engines stalled and just as they were restarted the ship ran aground.

On Friday 2 September 2005 at about 1600, the locomotive engineer of express freight Train 354 reported to train control that a school bus had passed over Caverhill Road level crossing, Awakaponga, immediately in front of his train. The level crossing had passive protection that included limit line road markings and compulsory stop signs on both sides of the crossing. The incident was caused by the bus driver not stopping at the level crossing. No safety deficiencies were identified in the level crossing layout or in the rail system.

On Thursday 1 September 2005 at about 1625, a rake of 6 wagons that was left unattended on the Down main line during a shunting movement within station limits at Mercer, ran away to the south. The wagons were stopped after they had travelled about 450 metres towards Koheroa Road level crossing. Favourable track gradients and the actions of a staff member prevented the wagons rolling any further. There were no injuries or equipment damage. Safety issues identified included: • the training, certification and assessment processes for new personnel

On Wednesday 17 August 2005, at 1145, the pilot of ZK-HGI, a Eurocopter AS350 BA helicopter, flew a party of 4 adults and 3 children to a snowfield above Franz Josef Glacier, in South Westland. When approaching to land, the helicopter started to drift right, the skids caught in the soft snow and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The pilot and passengers were able to vacate the helicopter and, other than some bruising, were not injured.

On Wednesday 10 August 2005, at about 0845, ZK-WWH, a Cessna U206G, took off from Queenstown Aerodrome for Mount Cook Aerodrome with a pilot and 5 passengers on board. Just after take-off, the pilot encountered control difficulties that culminated in the aircraft striking the runway with its left wing tip and failing to remain airborne. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but no one was injured.

On Friday 29 July 2005 at about 0506, a rake of 9 wagons that had been detached from the locomotives of Train 644 ran away to the south from Waingawa. The runaway wagons collided with a motor vehicle at Hodders Road level crossing, about 11.75 kilometres (km) from Waingawa, seriously injuring the driver. The wagons then continued for a further 2.75 km before stopping at about 70.50 km between Dalefield and Matarawa. The driver of the vehicle was taken by ambulance to Wairarapa Hospital, and subsequently air lifted to Wellington Hospital. Safety issues identified included:

On Wednesday 27 July 2005, at about 1428, wagon ZH519 on Train 245, a Karioi to Wellington express freight service, derailed near Ohingaiti, between Mangaweka and Mangaonoho, at 225.127 km on the North Island Main Trunk. The derailed wagon was dragged about one kilometre before the train parted and the brakes were applied automatically. The wood pulp inside the wagon caught fire as a result of the friction heat created by the derailed wheel sets, piercing the wagon deck.

[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 Thursday 7 July 2005 at 0852, the pilot of ZK-MSL, a Piper PA34 Seneca II, intentionally landed the aircraft at Napier Aerodrome with the landing gear retracted after both normal and emergency procedures failed to extend the nose landing gear. The pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Aircraft damage was largely confined to the propellers.

On Thursday 9 June 2005 at about 2011, the passenger freight ferry "Santa Regina" was entering Cook Strait from the Tory Channel when the ship departed from the designated passage plan, coming close to grounding on the rocks and islets at East Head. Avoidance action taken by the Mate/Master, who had the con of the ship, prevented the ship grounding and brought it back onto the designated course. Safety issues identified included: • bridge resource management • training and use of modern retro-fitted bridge equipment.