Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On Friday 8 May 1998 Air Nelson Metro ZK-NSJ, Airlink (RLK) 8611, was being operated on a scheduled service at night from Hokitika to Christchurch when the incident occurred. Unforecast fog occurred at the destination and alternate aerodromes. The aircraft made four ILS approaches before being able to land at the destination. No alternative course of action remained available to the crew at that stage because of the low amount of fuel remaining. Safety issues identified are: • the procedure for crews to release company agents from departure aerodromes

On Monday, 29 July 1996, at approximately 2230 hours, the fishing vessel "Avenger" was reported overdue on a trip from Preservation Inlet to Riverton. A search conducted at first light the following day located the bodies of the two crew members amongst flotsam from the vessel. The vessel was not recovered and the cause of its sinking was not identified conclusively. A safety issue identified was the seaworthiness of the "Avenger", which was not required to be surveyed.

At about 1240 hours on Tuesday 1 July 1997 a loss of separation occurred between an RNZAF Airtrainer and an Eagle Air Metroliner proceeding in opposite directions five nautical miles south of Hamilton Aerodrome. The aircraft were under radar control. The Airtrainer departed from Hamilton Aerodrome following the Eagle Air Metroliner which had commenced a missed approach with a simulated engine failure. The Metroliner then turned back toward the VOR while below radar coverage, simulating an inability to clear the terrain south of Hamilton.

At about 1735 hours on Monday 2 June 1997 a loss of separation occurred between an RNZAF Hercules and an Eagle Air Metroliner proceeding in opposite directions on the Hamilton - Taumarunui track. The aircraft were under radar control and the Area Controller had cleared the northbound Hercules to descend from flight level 170 to 10 000 feet after the crew reported a pressurisation difficulty. The aircraft passed approximately 0.7 nm horizontally and 600 feet vertically apart.

On Friday 16 August 1996 at 1250 hours, shortly after Fairchild SA 227-AC, ZK-OAA touched down at Gisborne Aerodrome, it swerved to the right. The pilot was able to regain control but when he engaged reverse thrust, the aircraft swung to the right a second time and the pilot was unable to prevent the aircraft veering off the runway onto the adjacent grass area. The aircraft sustained minor damage and there were no injuries to the two pilots or the 14 passengers. The causal factors were not identified.

On Thursday, 30 April 1998, at about 0250, the Ro Ro cargo vessel "Spirit of Vision" grounded in French Pass. The vessel had been on passage from Nelson to Lyttelton with eleven persons on board. There were no injuries. Attempts to refloat the vessel immediately after grounding were unsuccessful despite the assistance of the fishing vessel "Rockfish". The vessel refloated without assistance on the next rising tide and was able to continue the passage to Lyttelton, although the starboard engine could not be used due to propeller damage sustained in the grounding.

The pilot and passenger departed from Paraparaumu in ZK-FTO for a flight to Nelson and return. The pilot reported to Nelson Tower crossing through French Pass. No further communications were received. The aircraft was seen and heard by residents of D'Urville Island flying in low cloud and reduced visibility. The sound of an impact prompted a ground search but due to the poor weather the wreckage of ZK-FTO was not located until the following morning. Neither occupant had survived the impact and ensuing intense fire.

On Wednesday 19 August 1998, Cessna 402C aeroplane ZK-VAC was on a scheduled flight from Stewart Island to Invercargill when both engines failed. After the successful ditching in Foveaux Strait five passengers were rescued, but three passengers and the pilot, who were without lifejackets, did not survive. One passenger is missing presumed dead. The cause of the double engine failure was not conclusively established but may have been associated with systemic fuel management. Safety issues identified included:

On Monday, 20 January 1997, at about 1255 a jet boat carrying ten passengers plus the driver, and a substantial amount of water in the cockpit, was proceeding up the Ngaawapurua (Fulljames) "Rapid", when it lost engine power, took on more water and foundered in the rapid. The 11 occupants escaped to the river bank uninjured. Causes included the driver's failure to notice the substantial amount of water in the cockpit which affected the performance of the boat, reduced the freeboard and caused the engine to stop.

On the morning of 30 March 1994, ZK-DZB, a Fletcher FU24-950M, stalled in a turn at low level after the pilot apparently aborted a sowing run. The aircraft entered an incipient spin and struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed.

New Zealand has completed its support for this inquiry. TAIC will not be producing a report on this inquiry. A copy of the report produced by the ATSB can be found on the link in the sidebar to the right.

On Friday 12 January and Thursday 18 January 1996, Metroliners ZK-POB and ZK-SDA respectively were involved in runway excursions after the pilot flying engaged the nosewheel steering during their landing runs. No injuries were sustained in either event and the damage to the aircraft was minor. The causal factors identified were a malfunction of the nosewheel steering system and the pilots' perseverance with the use of an aircraft system which was unserviceable.