Inquiries & Recommendations

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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.

On Wednesday 12 June 2002 at about 1308, a partially-sighted passenger fell from the doorway of Train 2643 while alighting at Silverstream. The train, an Upper Hutt to Wellington Tranz Metro electric multiple unit service, had stopped at the platform but the last doorway of the rear passenger car, from which the passenger fell, was positioned off the north end of the platform. The passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The safety issue identified was the berthing of electric multiple unit passenger services at suburban stations.

[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 12 June 2002 at about 1308, a partially-sighted passenger fell from the doorway of Train 2643 while alighting at Silverstream. The train, an Upper Hutt to Wellington Tranz Metro electric multiple unit service, had stopped at the platform but the last doorway of the rear passenger car, from which the passenger fell, was positioned off the north end of the platform. The passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The safety issue identified was the berthing of electric multiple unit passenger services at suburban stations.

On Friday 18 0ctober 2002, at about 0515, 2 wagons on the rear of southbound express freight Train 215 derailed while negotiating a turnout as the train departed from the Hamilton container transfer depot. The derailed wagons were detached and the train continued its journey south, but at about 0750, as it entered Te Kuiti, 3 further wagons derailed as they crossed the north-end turnout. On Tuesday 25 March 2003, at about 0145, 12 wagons on northbound express freight Train 934 derailed while crossing the south-end turnout at Sawyers Bay.

On Tuesday 8 October 2002 at 0356, the bulk carrier "Tai Ping", with a pilot, a master and 22 crew on board, became engulfed by thick fog, left the Bluff approach channel and grounded. The ship remained aground until 17 October 2002 and suffered extensive damage to the bottom plating. Safety issues identified included: • adequacy of pilot training, including simulation • adequacy and interpretation of weather forecasts for port areas • adequacy of bridge resource management • adequacy of resource management within the port service personnel

[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 2 October 2002 at 1215, ZK-HRC, a Bell 206B JetRanger III helicopter, was positioning to uplift passengers for a local scenic flight. Approaching to land at the Huka Falls landing pad, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot managed to fly the helicopter onto the landing pad, where it slid across the pad and over the edge, rolling on to its side. The 2 occupants received minor scratches and bruising. The helicopter was extensively damaged. The cause of the power loss was not determined. No new safety issues were identified.

On Sunday 29 September 2002, at about 1240, express freight Train F8829 derailed near Waikokopu, between Wairoa and Gisborne when eight wagons loaded with fertiliser dropped between the running rails while negotiating a tight radius curve. There were no injuries. The safety issues identified included: ·the ability of the inspection regime to monitor a known track defect and take timely corrective action ·the absence of standards to define life expired track assets ·the over-loading of wagons conveying fertiliser on the Napier-Gisborne track section.

On Saturday 31 August 2002 at about 1515, Train 9351, a Tranz Metro Johnsonville to Wellington electric multiple unit passenger service collided with Train 3647, a Tranz Metro Upper Hutt to Wellington electric multiple unit passenger service, as both trains were approaching the Wellington platforms on converging tracks. There were no injuries to passengers or crew and only minor damage to the trains. The safety issues identified included the well-being of the electric multiple unit driver of Train 9351 and his resulting capacity to recognise and respond to a danger signal indication.

On Friday 30 August 2002 at 2120, ZK-NBS (flight NZ 2), a Boeing 747-419, took off from runway 23 at Auckland International Airport for Los Angeles. On board were 355 passengers and 17 crew, including 3 pilots on duty in the cockpit.

On 29 August 2002, an incident occurred at Maimai when a locomotive engineer was authorised by train control to enter a section of track already occupied by a rail contractor. The locomotive engineer saw the contractor and stopped the train short of the work site.