Executive summary
During the course of a scenic flight over Fox Glacier, the helicopter's engine seemed to lose power and the pilot made an autorotational descent on to the glacier. Two of the passengers were fatally injured during the ensuing impact on the extensively crevassed and pinnacled ice-fall, and the pilot and one of the two surviving passengers received serious injuries.
Related Recommendations
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure any Civil Aviation Regulation is referred to only by its number and if necessary specific paragraph or ..[see recommendation 010/91].
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure each quotation of a Civil Aviation Regulation be checked to ensure it is current, correct and complete. [As and alternative to recommendation 009/91]
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure any minimum height dispensations are reviewed in relation to the requirement for the pilot to have an optimum chance of conducting a successful forced landing in the event of an engine power loss.
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure the need for the pilots of helicopters to maintain a safe height above the terrain, is stated unequivocally.
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure any reference to dispensations for lower minimum height to be flown in adverse weather be reviewed in relation to the terrain and the overall consideration of passenger safety.
Review the Operations Specifications and the associated Operations Manuals of each helicopter operator licensed to conducted scenic air transport operations to ensure any minimum height dispensations are given in specific detail.