Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

At about 0914 on Wednesday, 31 May 2000, the passenger ferries "Quickcat" and "Quickcat II" were operating on the ferry service between Waiheke Island and Auckland when they collided about 0.5 miles east of the northern leading light in Auckland Harbour. The visibility in the area at the time of the collision was about 50 m due to fog. There was a total of 127 passengers and 7 crew aboard the 2 vessels, none of whom were injured. Safety issues identified included: • the speed of the 2 vessels in restricted visibility • the inefficient use of radar for collision avoidance

[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 May 2000 at about 1130, while the Middleton yard shunt was propelling a rake of 5 wagons into the freight centre grid, the shunter fell under the leading wagon of the rake as he tried to board it and was killed instantly. Safety issues addressed in the report are: • the potential for inexperienced staff to be involved in shunting fatalities • the lack of a support programme for newly qualified entrants into safety-critical areas such as the shunting environment

On Tuesday, 9 May 2000, at about 1430, a collision occurred between a rail-mounted excavator, operating as a hi-rail vehicle, and Train 688 at 216.5 km between Waipunga and Waikoau on the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line. The excavator was operating outside its authorised work area and beyond the agreed "check call" time with the train controller when the collision occurred. There were no injuries.

On Sunday 7 May 2000, at about 2000 hours, the refrigerated cargo carrier, "Caribic", departed Tauranga with 10 crew and a harbour pilot on board. The vessel successfully negotiated the Cutter Channel and turned to starboard to round Mount Maunganui into the departure channel. The rate of turn became excessive and the master and pilot were unable to reduce it sufficiently to prevent the vessel grounding inside Tanea number 2 buoy. The vessel was refloated and returned to its berth assisted by 2 harbour tugs. There were no injuries but the vessel suffered moderate hull bottom damage.

At approximately 1010 hours on Thursday, 4 May 2000, Y35 shunt overran its track warrant limit at Mataura by 15 km. There was no opposing traffic. Safety issues identified included: • the need for better communication between train controllers and remote control operators when track warrants issued for main line shunts did not reflect work-between localities requested • the need for more effective ways of communicating, and monitoring compliance with, amendments to rules and regulations to improve safety

At approximately 1100 on Thursday, 27 April 2000, the Lyttelton shunt was operating in Woolston yard when wagon LPA 5218 loaded with scrap metal derailed due to the track condition. The wagon overturned and fell on the rail operator who had been riding on the shunt. His injuries were fatal. The safety issues identified included actioning of identified track gauge exceedances and the factors which contributed to the wagon overturning. Two safety recommendations were made to Tranz Rail Limited, to address these issues.

At approximately 0942 hours on Thursday, 6 April 2000, Train 326, a northbound express freight, was travelling on the up main through Pukekohe when dragging brake gear on a wagon near the centre of the train hit the spreader bar of the south-end turnout from the up main line to the loop. The impact caused the facing points to open and derail 13 of the following wagons. Safety deficiencies identified were the limitations of the clevis pin retaining the wagon brake rod, and the worn condition of the brake rod safety chains.

On Wednesday 5 April 2000, at about 1945, the passenger charter launch "Kiwi Cruiser" was returning to Paihia from a fishing charter with 9 passengers and 3 crew on board, when it struck rocks off Tapeka Point. The vessel was holed at the bow and began taking water. As the "Kiwi Cruiser" began to list heavily and settle on the rocks the skipper transmitted a mayday call. The crew and passengers donned lifejackets and launched the rigid life raft before abandoning the vessel. They were subsequently picked up by a vessel that was responding to the mayday call and taken to Paihia.

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.

On Friday 24 March 2000 at 1019 hours, ZK-FPL, a Piper PA31T3-T1040, landed on runway 18 at Taupo Aerodrome with its undercarriage retracted. The 10 passengers and the pilot on board the aircraft were not injured.

On Wednesday, 15 March 2000, at approximately 1928 hours, Train 2139, a diesel multiple unit passenger service, suffered a partial brake failure while descending the grade from Newmarket to Auckland. A permanent 25 km/h speed restriction on curved track approaching the station was negotiated at about 45 km/h before the service came to a stop some 40 m past its normal stopping place. The partial brake failure was caused by a combination of a broken air pipe and a seized air valve.