Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On the second landing of a familiarisation flight in the tailwheel aircraft, the pilot under instruction flared too high. The aircraft "skipped" onto the main wheels and a series of rudder overcorrections ensued in the pilot's attempts to maintain directional control. The aircraft groundlooped to the right, the left undercarriage collapsed, and the left wingtip struck the ground.

During a hunting sortie, in which the helicopter was being flown with both doors removed, the pilot manoeuvred the helicopter adjacent to a steep slope to enable the shooter to fire at a deer. The next moment the pilot saw the shooter "flying out the door" and falling some 30 or 40 feet on to the tussock and scrub covered slope. The pilot flew from the area temporarily to summon assistance and subsequently picked up a local doctor and transported him to the scene. The shooter survived the fall but sustained severe injuries to his back and lower limbs.

ZK-FKF was the second in a loose formation of three microlight aircraft which had taken off from Pikes Point Aerodrome, to fly to Raglan. While the formation was flying over the Manukau Harbour, parallel to the north shore, the aircraft was seen to dutch roll, then pitch nose-down. The right wing folded at about one-third span, and the aircraft fell into the sea, killing the pilot.

After leaving Milford Sound with a full load of passengers to fly to Queenstown, the engine of ZK-FTL had begun to run less smoothly than normal so the pilot returned to Milford Sound. Following discussion with engineering staff, and ground running checks, the pilot took off for a test circuit. In the circuit the engine again ran roughly, and on late downwind stopped completely. An area of dry riverbed provided the only option for a forced landing.

On the return leg of a charter flight, the pilot, with three passengers on board Cessna ZK-FGV, had received clearance from Nelson Tower to taxi for runway 20. He had earlier noticed a Metro aircraft with its engines running at what appeared to be idle power. As he was turning from his parked position to enter the taxiway, he passed behind the Metro at an estimated distance of 30 metres. His aircraft began to weathercock and it became apparent that the Metro's engine power had been markedly increased.

The ski-plane made a normal touchdown on the established snow landing area but as the speed reduced the aircraft slowed to the right due to icy surface conditions and a quartering tailwind. It skidded to the left and the left ski dug in to the frozen surface causing minor damage to the left wingtip when it struck the ice.

The aircraft had been chartered to take a 3 person medical team from Taieri Aerodrome to Alexandra and return. Prior to take-off from Alexandra the pilot assessed the wind to be easterly at about 10 knots. He backtracked to a position about 150m or 200m from the threshold of runway 14, selected 10o of flap and commenced take-off. The aircraft accelerated normally and at 50 knots the pilot raised the nose. The aircraft became airborne momentarily but settled again and the pilot decided to abandon the take-off.

[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.]

The pilot, with a passenger aboard, was making a cross country flight from Takaka in his microlight aircraft. The aircraft was observed to encounter turbulence, due to the prevailing wind conditions, as it flew in the lee of a ridge some 350 feet amsl. The right wing dropped, the nose pitched downwards, and the aircraft continued in a steep spiral to the ground. The passenger was fatally injured and the pilot received serious injuries in the accident.

During a stream take-off the pilot of de Havilland Venom ZK-VNM was concentrating on the Mustang taking off ahead of him. He attempted to raise the nosewheel of the aircraft at the normal point, but without success. He did not check engine rpm at this time because of preoccupation with the lead aircraft. He wound on some nose-up trim and raised the nose but realised that he could now neither continue the take-off successfully nor stop before the end of the runway. In the event he decided to land straight ahead.

Following an early morning departure to hunt deer, the helicopter failed to rendezvous with ground crew. ELT transmissions enabled searchers to locate the wreckage of the helicopter by midday. While retrieving a shot deer from a riverbed, a wind gust had drifted the helicopter toward nearby trees. The main rotor blades contacted an unseen overhanging branch and during the ensuing descent on to rocks below the shooter fell from the helicopter receiving serious injuries from which he died before rescuers reached the scene.

The microlight aircraft was observed to make a level right turn through approximately 180o. Soon after the completion of the turn the wings of the aircraft were seen to "fold". The aircraft dived to the ground fatally injuring the pilot and passenger. Weather conditions were blustery, with a strong westerly wind, passing rain showers, and low cloud. Severe turbulence was likely in the area of the accident.