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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date: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.
Incident date: Publish date:After boarding six passengers for a river rafting trip the pilot lifted off the hillside helipad. While commencing to move forward he allowed main rotor torque to turn the helicopter to the left but found that full right pedal was insufficient to stop the rotation to the left. An attempt to achieve forward speed by use of the cyclic control was unsuccessful and after about four rotations the helicopter collided with the hillside, rolled over rearwards and came to rest inverted. Four of the passengers sustained minor injury.
Incident date: Publish date:The aircraft was equipped with the aircraft manuafacturers wheel/ski undercarriage. At an indicated airspeed of 130 knots the pilot heard a loud bang accompanied by a jolt and then severe vibration, followed by another loud bang and worse vibration. Both left and right skiis had pivoted about their attachments to a position beyond the vertical, creating considerable drag. An emergency landing was carried out, and on touchdown the heels of the skiis contacted the ground which returned them to normal position facilitating a normal roll out.
Incident date: Publish date:Shortly after becoming airborne from Pauanui Beach Aerodrome, the aircraft's tailplane came off. The pilot abandoned the aircraft but became entangled in the parachute rigging lines and fell to the sea.
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