Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Wednesday 12 June 2002 at about 1308, a partially-sighted passenger fell from the doorway of Train 2643 while alighting at Silverstream. The train, an Upper Hutt to Wellington Tranz Metro electric multiple unit service, had stopped at the platform but the last doorway of the rear passenger car, from which the passenger fell, was positioned off the north end of the platform. The passenger suffered serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The safety issue identified was the berthing of electric multiple unit passenger services at suburban stations.

At about 1545 on Friday, 26 December 1997, a jet boat carrying 10 passengers plus the driver, ventured into a shallow tributary of the Lower Shotover River. The driver turned hard left in an attempt to regain the main channel but the boat skidded sideways along a shingle bar for some 10 m before it rolled and came to rest upside down. Several of the passengers and the driver received minor to serious injuries in the accident.

The Commission was New Zealand's Accredited Representative to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Department of Transport, United Kingdom for their investigation into the above occurrence. Their report was published as "Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe, G-AKUI and Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL, ZK-KAY". Using the link in the sidebar to the right.

On Thursday, 13 June 1996 at about 1035 hours Train 401, the southbound Geyserland Express passenger service, struck and killed a signal maintainer working alongside the track. The causes were the signal maintainer's lack of awareness of the train's approach and the absence of any warning to the locomotive engineer of the presence of this staff member. A safety issue identified was the need for the wearing of high-visibility clothing by all staff in such situations to be mandatory.

Severe "sink" experienced during an approach to a high level landing site resulted in a collision with terrain of Aerospatiale AS 350B helicopter ZK-HNH near the summit of Mt Fyffe, 12 km north-west of Kaikoura on 1 February 1993. The safety issues discussed in the report are: the ineffectiveness of the local wind indicators, the inaccessibility of the mountain survival gear carried in the aircraft and the need to develop local contingency plans for aviation emergencies in the Kaikoura area.

On Thursday 15 May 2003, at about 1240 hours, bi-parting doors on Train 3247, a Tranz Metro Auckland to Papakura diesel multiple unit passenger service, closed on an alighting passenger at Glen Innes station and the train departed with the passenger trapped in the door. The driver heard the trapped passenger’s screams and stopped the train within about 15 m from where the train departed. The passenger suffered minor injuries. The safety issues identified were: · the door closure process · the inspection of safety critical door components.

[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.]

While off loading a sling-load of bales of seaweed the pilot sensed a transient "buzz" from the tail rotor which disappeared with the application of yaw pedal. On the transit back to the pick up point at about 200 feet amsl and 60 knots IAS there was a brief, high frequency, vibration throughout the airframe followed by a loud noise. The helicopter's nose pitched down sharply. A witness on the beach saw the tail rotor separate and fall, apparently intact, to the sea.

A fatal controlled flight into terrain occurred after aircraft turned away from planned/ authorised route in uncontrolled airspace. Terrain proximity awareness system either too dim or not selected. All pilots should follow Civil Aviation Rules, apply validation steps such as cross-checking altitude and distance for flight plans, use onboard safety equipment. Flight training schools should have robust flight authorisation systems.

On Thursday 19 October 1995 at 0940 hours, Cameron A-210 balloon ZK-FAR, on a passenger scenic flight, was overtaken by a squall line, lifted and blown out to sea near North New Brighton, Christchurch. Three passengers were drowned. The rapid approach of the squall line and the pilot's non-observance of it because of preoccupation were factors in the accident. Safety issues addressed were the carriage of lifejackets, and procedures for approval of check pilots.

TAIC reports on fatal capsize of recreational boat while crossing harbour bar. NZ needs to require boats to be registered, and we need minimum standards for boat design and construction, and we need to assess skippers for minimum standards of knowledge and boat handling. To accept the status quo is to accept the current rate of 15-20 deaths a year. Education campaigns to encourage safer boating are good but not enough; they don’t reach all skippers and listening is optional.

New TAIC Final Report presents crucial lessons for ship operations, human factors, and Pilot training. A bulk carrier ship, under conduct of harbour pilot, went off course in strong wind while entering Bluff Harbour. Its anchors failed to deploy in time, and it contacted the seabed. Minor damage to ship hull, damage to 2 tugs, no personal injuries.