Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
NZ Defence Force
Text
Promulgate to aircraft commanders the ramifications of legislation pertaining to civil aerodromes.
Reply Text
The recommendation that helicopter operating areas be designated could be taken a step further by recommending that within these areas, designated helicopter landing pads be established at all airfields and that safe access routes to/from each of these landing pads be maintained clear. Access to the refuelling pump was restricted by the parking of two civilian helicopters adjacent to the pump, effectively denying clear access. At best, the parking position of the two other helicopters could be classified as a probable cause factor of the accident (vice being a possible cause of a determined cause). Whether or not any reasonable alternative access would have prevented this accident the report should have found that the positioning of two other helicopters reduced safe access to the pump.
Related Investigation(s)