Inquiries & Recommendations

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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 Monday 18 November 2002, a hi-rail vehicle overran its track authority from Westmere Intermediate Board to Symes Road Intermediate Board on the Marton-New Plymouth Line and continued a further 28.3 km to Brewer Road Intermediate Board. The operator of the hi-rail vehicle had intended to proceed to Brewer Road but mistakenly made reference to Symes Road when seeking authority from the train controller. There was no conflicting track occupancy between Symes Road Intermediate Board and Brewer Road Intermediate Board. The safety issues identified were:

On Sunday, 17 November 2002, at about 2353, Train 526, a Palmerston North to New Plymouth express freight service overran its track warrant limit at Waitotara by about 1.5 km. The incident occurred when the locomotive engineer did not identify and stop at the limit of his track warrant authority but continued on into the next section. There was no opposing traffic. The major contribution factor to the incident was the probability that the locomotive engineer lost concentration and situational awareness, which supported a misperception of the limits of the track warrant he held.

[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 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.