Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

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.

[Investigated on behalf of the Government of Fiji. Direct any inquiries for copy of the report to the Minister of Transport of that State]

The purpose of the flight was to land a passenger and gear beside a mountain lake at an elevation of 5300 feet amsl. On short final approach the pilot found that on losing transitional lift the rotor rpm began to decay, and she was unable to arrest the sink. An attempt to make a controlled landing on lower, uneven, ground was unsuccessful. The left skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over. Neither occupant was injured.

The pilot made two approaches to the 430m two-way airstrip, oriented 330/150, to assess the surface wind and decide the most appropriate direction in which to land. Both his approaches were toward the northwest and involved a go-around from 200 feet and 100 feet respectively. On the third approach at about 20 or 30 feet agl the pilot noted the groundspeed of the aircraft was too high and not reducing normally.

The aircraft was in a high hover. It was seen to rotate about its vertical axis and fall into the sea. The co-pilot escaped under water and was rescued but the Pilot lost his life.

While taxiing in the early hours of the morning for departure on a night non-scheduled air transport flight, the right undercarriage traversed an area of uncompacted soil and collided with a concrete kerb. The resulting yaw caused the nose leg to separate from the aircraft. Recommendations were made concerning the installation of suitable edge lighting around the apron perimeter, realignment of a floodlight to illuminate obstructions, allocation of an identification letter to the taxiway, and more informative and accurate depiction of areas adjacent to the taxiway.

A student on his first solo cross country lost control of the aircraft and it collided with the terrain. The pilot lost his life in the accident.

The helicopter's main rotor was seen to separate from the aircraft while it was cruising at a low level. Both occupants were killed in the subsequent collision with the terrain.

The pilot was transporting a tramper and his gear to a mountain hut situated at an elevation of about 4750 feet. There was no helipad so he elected to land on a nearby tussock covered saddle. In the final stages of a shallow approach the pilot realised that main rotor rpm had decayed. Full throttle failed to restore rpm, and as the pilot considered he was committed to land, he increased collective but was unable to prevent a heavy touchdown. The helicopter pitched nosedown and fell on to its right side. Neither occupant was injured.

The aircraft was involved in an aerial work operation during which two men were suspended on a chain attached to the cargo hook. After the men had hooked on they gave the signal for the pilot to lift them off the ground and proceed with the flight. As the second man to hook on eased the weight on his harness to settle into it more comfortably he fell free from the hook. His fall to the ground was unsurvivable.

On the first topdressing flight for the day the take-off run was longer than normal due to a blocked injector in the number 8 cylinder. During the take-off the right wing passed through a six foot tall hedge of dense thistles which bordered the downsloping airstrip for the lowest third of its length. The thistles had not been present when the pilot operated from the airstrip previously. Thistles became entrained between the wingtip and the aerodynamic balance horn, deflecting and jamming the ailerons, causing the aircraft to roll uncontrollably to the right.

Joy riding operations had been delayed by strong north west winds but after the wind had moderated some six flights were completed uneventfully. The operators normal pad was being resurfaced so the pilot was using a small paddock about 70 m square. The paddock was bounded to the west by 80 foot trees, with power wires to the east and south, and buildings and horses to the north. On the last departure the pilot was accelerating through 20 kts above the trees when a strong northerly gust was encountered which rolled the helicopter to the left and caused it to descend rapidly downwind.