Inquiries & Recommendations

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A landing accident and subsequent collapse of the nose undercarriage occurred to Cessna 206 ZK-DOV, at Tangahoe private airstrip.

[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 25 October 1993 the southbound Auckland-Wellington passenger train No. 203 collided with the edge of an open door of a container on a northbound freight train, No. B38, which was stationary in a crossing loop at Whangamarino. A window in one of the carriages was broken injuring two passengers. The safety issue identified in this report is the minimum spacing between main lines and crossing loops.

The aircraft had been chartered to fly a German group to a number of tourist destinations in New Zealand. It had departed from Glentanner on a VFR flight to Queenstown. The flight was to include scenic flying in the Mount Cook region. A "taxiing" call was received at 1153 hours but later attempts by Christchurch Flight Information to communicate with the aircraft were unsuccessful. Aircraft wreckage, which proved to be that of ZK-NOM, was sighted during the afternoon in a severely crevassed and pinnacled area of Franz Josef Glacier, at an elevation of 4500 feet amsl.

A Free Flight Kiwi Flyer hang glider collided with a cliff face near Raglan on 24 October 1993. The safety issues identified were the risks of hang gliding alone in remote areas and flying over difficult areas without a preplanned escape route.

On 18 October 1993 a shunting locomotive struck a car on the Matapihi Road level crossing, Mount Maunganui, fatally injuring the motorist. The safety issues identified in this report are the location and substance of the passive signs prior to the crossing, and the number and location of the active warning devices at the crossing.

On 16 October 1993, MIL MI-8T helicopter YS-1005P, went out of control and broke up while in cruise flight. An uncommanded yaw led to a pitch excursion severe enough for the main rotor to strike and sever the tail boom. The helicopter's three occupants were killed in the accident. The precise cause of the uncommanded yaw could not be determined.

On 12 October 1993 a pedestrian who moved on to the track between Papanui and Belfast as a passenger train approached was struck and mortally injured. No specific issues of public safety were identified in the investigation.

On 28 September 1993, ZK-BHU, a Fletcher FU-24 aircraft collided with the terrain during a topdressing sortie. The cause of the accident was not determined.

[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.]

A heliskier was struck and killed by a main rotor blade of Aerospatiale AS 350B helicopter, registration ZK-HWB, on the Harris Mountains, near Wanaka on 6 September 1993. The safety issue of the more effective control of parties of skiers prior to boarding helicopters was addressed by the operator while this investigation was in progress.

The right rear main undercarriage of Boeing 767-200 aircraft, registration ZK-NBF, landed at Los Angeles Airport on 6 September 1993. The safety issues discussed are the effectiveness of post-runway excursion of inspections of the undercarriage, the inspection of main undercarriage assemblies which had already been involved in runway excursion incidents and the marking for identification of main undercarriage axles.