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Front end view of a railway track tamper machine derailed inside a tunnel. The tamper has come to rest with a noticeable lateral tilt, indicating loss of alignment with the rails. A significant quantity of crushed stone ballast has been pushed forward and accumulated ahead of the machine, consistent with it having run approximately 16 metres off the rails through loose ballast. The image also shows the tunnel interior, tunnel wall markings, and components of the tamper's cab and underframe.

Rail Derailment report - Rules don’t keep overstretched workers safe

The lesson for all high-risk work sites: don’t rely on procedures alone; physical protections are essential.
TAIC recommends that KiwiRail:
• Improve authorisation for rail movements
• Require physical protections for removed track
• Ensure staffing levels and support for critical roles

Aerial view of the Japanese longline fishing vessel Chokyo Maru aground on rocks near a steep coastline, with a harbour tug made fast to the vessel’s stern via a tow line. The tug is manoeuvring to refloat or reposition the grounded vessel. A group of support craft is visible in pontoon at anchor in deeper water some 60m off the starboard bow of the grounded vessel. The surrounding area features submerged hazards and clear turquoise water, indicating shallow depths and rocky outcrops

Marine TAIC reports on a failure of basic seamanship

Grounding near Auckland: new TAIC report reminds us why the basics always matter. This is a real-world case study and useful training material for what can go wrong when safety critical staff overlook the basics.

Air New Zealand Airbus A320 aircraft ZK-OXJ in flight with landing gear extended, approaching for landing against a blue sky. The aircraft features a distinctive black-and-white koru fern livery.

Aviation TAIC reports on likely near collision of drone and passenger jet

A drone likely came close to an passenger jet on approach to a major NZ airport, the drone being in breach of NZ civil aviation rules. TAIC recommends drone registration, remote ID, and geo-fencing, calls on Ministry of Transport and CAA to modernise drone regulations in line with international best practice.

Aerial view of the container ship Shiling adrift in open ocean following a machinery failure during its second incident in 2023. The vessel is heavily laden with multi-coloured shipping containers stacked on deck. The bow is visibly trimmed low, and the ship appears to be listing slightly to port. Sea state is moderate under clear skies, with the New Zealand coastline faintly visible on the horizon. Image captured by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter during a response operation

Marine Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand

Deferred maintenance is a risk in itself. It’s virtually certain the container ship Shiling was unseaworthy when in NZ, despite holding valid certificates. Shiling twice needed to be rescued and towed. TAIC identifies safety issues and makes recommendations around the presence of substandard ships in NZ waters, international systems for ensuring ship owners mitigate risks, and NZ's tow salvage capability.

Close-up view of the right-hand main landing gear of a Boeing 777 aircraft on a wet airport apron during rainfall. The image shows six main gear tyres; the rear-most tyre (right side of image) is visibly deflated and compressed under load, with sidewall deformation. Other tyres appear fully inflated. Water runoff is visible on the gear structure and pooling on the concrete surface. A ground vehicle is present in the background to the right.

TAIC reports on Boeing 777 veering off runway

TAIC reports on Boeing 777 passenger jet veering off runway: heavy rain contributed to late transition from autopilot to manual control. The report has lessons for all aircraft operators: ensure crews know and understand the operator’s and aircraft manuals and procedures and are thoroughly briefed.
TAIC welcomes actions by operator Air New Zealand, which has amended its operational procedures and information and provided pilot training. No new safety recommendations.

Workers in orange high-vis on a train track near a level crossing

Rail Newsletter: Freight train near miss with rail workers

TAIC report on rail near miss reinforces importance of effective supervision of trainees undertaking safety-critical tasks and robust engineering risk controls for complex systems.
Lessons for all industries where the supervision of safety-critical tasks performed by inexperienced or unqualified staff is necessary to maintain safety.

Two aircraft; twin-engine Beech Duchess and single-engine Cessna 172

Aviation Near-collision highlights safety lessons for all busy, unattended aerodromes

Two aircraft came within 20 feet of each other on final approach at night at Ardmore Airport. TAIC report highlights safety lessons for pilots, aircraft owners, engineers, and aerodrome operators at busy unattended aerodromes. It shows how communication, visibility, and access to shared procedures can make all the difference and makes recommendations to improve night flying safety across New Zealand.

TransAlpine train with mountains in background

Rail Newsletter: Passenger train parting exposes gaps in inspection and response

Passenger train parts at low speed, inspection and response gaps exposed.
A cracked coupler, unnoticed in maintenance, caused carriages on the TranzAlpine tourist train to part. Power braking stress, missed alarms, and no procedure for crew to deal with partings revealed wider risks.

The wreckage of a crashed BK117 rescue helicopter sits upright in dense bush on a steep slope. The helicopter has a red fuselage with 'RESCUE' and 'King Country – Coromandel' markings, and a yellow tail boom. the main rotor blades are torn up, ripped and distorted from slashing through the trees during the crash sequence. A man in a high-visibility vest bearing the TAIC logo stands with his back to the viewer, looking at the wreck. Another person in rescue gear is partially visible among the vegetation.

Aviation TAIC inquiry proves vortex ring state safety risk for helicopters worldwide

A rescue helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain after entering vortex ring state—a dangerous flight condition where the main rotor loses lift in descent rate increases. Key safety points:
o Pilots need a deep understanding of how VRS develops
o Flight manuals must Identify the flight conditions and parameters conducive to VRS
o VRS alert systems could prevent future accidents

A large blue and yellow passenger vessel named 'Fiordland Navigator' is anchored on calm water in a mountain fjord. The vessel has three tall masts, each with a furled jib sail for optional wind-powered sailing. It features three decks with rows of windows, and an open front viewing platform. In the background, a small craft moves across the water. The fjord is surrounded by steep, forested mountains under a cloudy sky.

Marine Fatigue led to cruise vessel impacting Doubtful Sound mountainside

The fatigued master of a cruise vessel almost certainly fell asleep at the helm and it ran aground. TAIC found gaps in fatigue management, monitoring of medical fitness, and risk controls for sole-charge masters. Several passengers and crew suffered minor injuries, but the emergency response was effective. The vessel’s operator has since strengthened fatigue policies, added support roles, and improved safety oversight.