On Tuesday 17 October 2000, at about 1250, a MDHC 369E helicopter ZK-HFT, was returning to Queenstown with 2 people on board when the pilot made a forced landing owing to a loss of engine power.
ZK-HFT had been chartered for an inspection of a slip on the road between The Divide and Homer Tunnel. After completing the inspection and while flying down a valley east of Te Anau, the helicopter had a sudden uncommanded power loss. The pilot entered ZK-HFT into auto-rotation and attempted to restore power - without success. The pilot completed an auto-rotational landing, during which the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. The helicopter remained upright after the landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
