Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On 8 August 2013 the IDAS Bulker was departing Napier with a full cargo of logs. The vessel was initially under the control of a Napier pilot, who relinquished control of the vessel to the master approximately abeam South Pania Buoy (while still in the pilotage area) and departed the vessel. The master of the IDAS Bulker was concerned that the course that the pilot had advised him to steer would bring the IDAS Bulker too close to another vessel that was inbound to the Napier pilot station.

The homebuilt aircraft, which had been constructed by the owner pilot, was observed taking off from Culverden to return to Christchurch. The take-off and initial climb appeared normal but at a height of about 200 feet agl the engine was heard to falter and misfire. The aircraft entered a spin to the left and collided with the ground just north of the aerodrome. The pilot and passenger received fatal injuries.

On 20 June 2010, a Boeing 737-800 aeroplane operated by Pacific Blue was being flown on a conventional instrument approach to Queenstown Aerodrome. When making an instrument approach, pilots must see the runway before they may descend below the minimum descent altitude and they must maintain visual reference with the runway until landing. If visual reference is lost, they must execute a missed approach procedure.

On Friday 1 March 2002 at about 1130, while assisting a tanker to depart from the Lyttelton oil wharf, the master of the harbour tug "Purau" lost control and the tug’s stern grounded, causing damage to the starboard propeller and drive shaft. The safety issues identified included: • poor ergonomics of the propulsion controls on the 2 port company tugs • incomplete training of staff • imbalance of the calibration of the propulsion units • unauthorised persons on board the tug Safety recommendations were made to Lyttelton Port Company to address the safety issues.

The Commission, pursuant to Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, assisted the French BEA (Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile) in their inquiry into this accident. The Commission acted as an accredited representative, representing New Zealand's interests in the inquiry. The final report can be found on the BEA website, using the link in the sidebar to the right.

[Investigated on behalf of the Government of Fiji. Direct any inquiries for copy of the report to the Minister of Transport of that State]

[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 23 May 2010 the general-purpose oilfield support vessel Marsol Pride was conducting underwater operations within the Tui oil and gas field off the west coast of New Zealand. The Marsol Pride was fitted with a fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) fire smothering system for its engine room. Late that night a valve on one of the CO2 pilot cylinders developed a leak and charged the system ready for release. A second leak in the main control valve then caused the entire system to activate resulting in an uncontrolled release of CO2 gas into the engine room.

[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 10 April 2002 at about 1435, Cessna 210N Centurion ZK-TWA departed from Dunedin bound for Masterton. The aircraft did not arrive at Masterton, but was not reported overdue until the next day. After a search the aircraft was found on the Friday morning near Conical Peak, 34 km southwest of Oamaru. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot did not survive. The aircraft had struck the side of a ridge in an upright attitude, having descended as it approached the ridge, due either to pilot inattention or incapacitation.

On Tuesday 28 March 2000 at 1014 hours, ZK-HJN, a Hughes 369FF helicopter, was on a charter flight from Te Anau Aerodrome to West Arm, Lake Manapouri. Approaching to land, the helicopter struck a power line and impacted the ground heavily. The pilot and 4 passengers on board died in the accident and the helicopter was destroyed. Safety issues identified were the criteria for the marking of wires and overhead structures, and the requirement to expedite amendments to Civil Aviation Rules for wire marking. Safety recommendations were made to the Director of Civil Aviation.