Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Friday 3 March 2006 at about 1644, the passenger freight ferry Aratere unexpectedly rolled very heavily to starboard and sheared to port while on passage from Wellington to Picton in heavy weather in Cook Strait. About 30 minutes later the ship rolled heavily several times as the Master attempted to alter course to bring the weather onto the ship’s port bow and gain more clearance from the land. At about 1739, approximately one hour after the initial very heavy roll and shear, the Aratere again rolled very heavily to starboard and sheared to port.

Addendum to report 95-008: The wreckage and occupant were found on 8 April 2001 in forested high terrain, substantially west of the planned track. The aircraft was probably in controlled flight when it collided with terrain, about 42 minutes after departing from Gisborne. No explanation for the track deviation was found.

After take-off the subsequent climb to 200 feet seemed sluggish with a low airspeed, although the engine rpm was normal. Pilot started turning left (back to the aerodrome) as the aircraft started to lose height and airspeed. Engine normal. At 100 feet, wing dropped and aircraft descended out of control to collide with the ground.

On Monday 1 December 1997, at about 1015, the dinghy, "Solo", with eleven persons on board, was proceeding on a school trip across Nelson Harbour to Haulashore Island. The boat encountered sea conditions with waves in excess of its freeboard and swamped. There were no injuries.

Following a high reconnaissance, the pilot positioned the helicopter on final approach into the 25-30 north-westerly wind. Tailwind gust experienced at 50 feet, when the aircraft began to sink. Pilot initiated an overshoot during which the helicopter descended 5-10 feet above the landing site and commenced a right turn towards lower ground. Aircraft continued to descend and struck some trees before coming to rest on its right hand side.

On 18 June 1997, at approximately 1150 hours, Silver Fern railcar RM24 running empty to depot on the down main collided with a pedestrian who had just disembarked from an up train and was using a pedestrian level crossing to gain access to Glen Innes shopping centre. The pedestrian was killed by the collision. Safety issues identified were the rationale for determining the level of protection appropriate to particular pedestrian level crossing situations and the acceptability of subways as the only access to island station platforms.

After boarding ZK-HVO for a scenic flight at Rotorua on 17 March 1994, one of the passengers stood up in the doorway and raised his hand to wave to other members of his tour group. His hand was struck by the helicopter's main rotor. No specific safety issues were addressed.

[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 20 July 2004, at 1345, Train 725, a Picton to Christchurch express freight service, was authorised to travel through the Tormore to Scargill section of the Main North Line that was already occupied by a track maintenance gang. Two track maintenance personnel had just completed their work and were stowing equipment on their vehicle parked trackside when the train travelled through their worksite. There were no injuries or equipment damage. Safety issues identified included: - the certification process for trainee train controllers

Between 17 October 1997 and 12 January 1998 various Boeing 767 and 747 aircraft were flown with unrestrained unit load devices or pallets. In four cases the cargo was able to move freely along the adjacent empty spaces in the cargo hold of the aircraft. An investigation of the first incident was initiated in Sydney, at the Commission’s request, by the Australian Bureau of Air Safety Investigation. While that investigation was in progress four further incidents occurred.

An Airbus AS350 ‘squirrel’ helicopter was picking up passengers in Fiordland National Park. During final approach, the helicopter’s tail rotor reportedly contacted the ground. It landed hard with significant damage to its tail boom.

On 13 December 1994 at 1717 hours, Train 901, the southbound "Southerner" express passenger service between Christchurch and Invercargill, was travelling at 94 km/hr when the Locomotive Engineer noticed a buckle in the track ahead. He was unable to bring the train to a halt in the space available, and although the locomotive and three passenger carriages remained on the rails, all wheels of the trailing vehicle, a luggage van, were derailed.