Executive summary
On Good Friday, 2 April 1999, Aerospatiale AS350B helicopter ZK-HBH was on a charter flight from Clifden, carrying a hunting party into Fiordland when some loss of control occurred. The helicopter collided with trees and the ground in the Rowallan Forest, killing all 5 occupants.
The cause of the loss of control was not conclusively established, but the pilot's ability to control the helicopter may have been medically impaired by the sudden onset of a cardiac event.
Safety issues identified include:
• the need for a cargo restraint system for helicopter operations
• the need for a passenger list system for helicopter operations.
Related Recommendations
Puts in place a practical means of meeting the company's requirements for cargo restraints and ensures that it is complied with.
Puts in place a practical means of meeting the company's requirements for passenger lists and ensures that it is complied with.