Executive summary
On Wednesday 25 October 1995 at 0915 hours ZK-HKM, a Robinson R22 helicopter, broke up in flight and fell to the ground hitting State Highway 35 to the north-east of Opotiki. The pilot and a shooter died in the accident. The cause of the accident was the failure of a tail rotor blade on which an unauthorised repair had been carried out. The safety issues identified include the need to positively establish the history of critical components fitted to certificated aircraft, or to have the components supplied through approved distributors.
Related Recommendations
Review the current procedures for the procurement of critical aircraft components, with a view to requiring the components to be supplied through an approved distributor or the component's history be positively established by documentation, before they can be fitted to a certificate aircraft.
Take urgent steps to determine the validity of the Certificates of Airworthiness issued for the Robinson R22 helicopters currently operating in New Zealand and advise all operators accordingly.