Executive summary
On 11 December 2006, a Kawasaki-Hughes 369HS helicopter, registered ZK-HDJ, took off with the pilot and 4 passengers on board from near Crater Lake on Mount Ruapehu, at an elevation of about 8300 feet. The pilot could not climb the helicopter above the surrounding terrain, so he descended towards the lake to accelerate the helicopter towards its best-angle-of-climb speed. The helicopter hit the lake surface and came to rest on the shore of the lake. All of the occupants were injured and the helicopter was destroyed.
Safety issues identified included:
- the training and supervision of helicopter pilots working in mountainous terrain
- the removal of seats and the disregard for the wearing of seat belts in helicopters
- the carriage of life jackets on flights where, in the event of a forced landing, a water landing was likely or preferable
- the effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Authority’s current audit and surveillance programmes for determining the true level of industry compliance.
Related Recommendations
The Commission has determined that there is evidence that the purpose of approved seats and berths and the value of seat belts in helicopters are not understood or are disregarded, and that in some operations there could be a culture of non-compliance with Civil Aviation Rules relating to passenger restraint. The Commission recommends that the Director of Civil Aviation addresses this safety issue.
The Commission has determined that there is no requirement for the carriage or wearing of life jackets on a flight during which, in the event of a forced landing, a water landing was likely or preferable. The Commission recommends that the Director of Civil Aviation addresses this safety issue.
The Commission has determined that some helicopter operations are offered in mountainous terrain by pilots who have insufficient knowledge, experience or currency for those operations. Ensuring that their pilots have adequate role training and supervision can be problematic for smaller scale operators. The Commission recommends that the Director of Civil Aviation addresses this safety issue.
The Commission has determined that the current format of the CAA's audit and surveillance programme might not be effective for determining the true level of industry compliance with Civil Aviation Rules. The Commission recommends that the Director of Civil Aviation addresses this safety issue.