On Saturday 6 July 1996, Hughes 269C ZK-HVV was engaged in a series of NZ Army reconnaissance flights in an area between Waiouru and Taihape. When the helicopter failed to return from its last flight, a search was initiated and the wreckage of ZK-HVV was found some 900 m from the operating site. The pilot and one of the two passengers were killed and the second passenger seriously injured. The helicopter had collided with the ground while being operated at low level. Local loss of depth perception due to snow cover was a probable contributing factor. No new safety issues were raised.
