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Aviation Two final reports - Commercial hot air balloon pilots need to buckle up
Balloon landings are a safety-critical phase of flight. If anyone or anything is ejected from basket during landing, an accident is virtually certain because balloon is uncontrolled, passengers unattended. To avoid this, all balloon pilots should wear safety harnesses. Owners/operators should install them. Also passenger safety briefings must be clear, concise, easy for all passengers to follow.
Marine TAIC calls for regulation of recreational boats and boating
TAIC reports on fatal capsize of recreational boat while crossing harbour bar. NZ needs to require boats to be registered, and we need minimum standards for boat design and construction, and we need to assess skippers for minimum standards of knowledge and boat handling. Or accept the current rate of 15-20 deaths a year.
Marine Preliminary report - maintenance for safety critical rubber expansion joints
Preliminary report in ongoing inquiry. For safety critical rubber expansion joints to be fit for purpose, maintenance schedules must account for date of manufacture as well as time in service. On Interislander ferry Kaitaki, one of these joints was too old when it ruptured. The cooling system failed, causing automatic shut-down of main and auxiliary engines. In foul weather, with 900 people on board, ferry drifted towards shore, anchored until repairs completed 1 hour later.
Rail TAIC report: rising risks for rail infrastructure from climate change
TAIC rail safety report calls for new thinking for transport infrastructure to cope with climate change significant rainfall events. Floodwater washed out rail track ballast, freight train derailed.
Aviation TAIC calls on CAA to resolve safety issues with night vision imaging systems
TAIC report: Misinterpretations on board a BK117 helicopter during VFR flight using night vision goggles led to controlled flight into terrain (Southern Ocean sea). All 3 on board survived. Safety issues for CAA: requirements and technical standards for NVIS and helicopter air ambulance; crew resource management training and qualifications for non-pilots acting as crew members; guidelines for crew members assisting a pilot during NVIS ops.
Marine TAIC investigating collision, ferry and recreational boat, Bay of Islands
TAIC appealing for witnesses who saw, photographed or videoed the two vessels that collided in the Bay of Islands on Thursday 13 April 2023. Commission is opening an inquiry into the accident reportedly involving the collision of a recreational boat with a passenger ferry about midway between Russell and Paihia.
Aviation TAIC reports on helicopter accident at Kekerengu, December 2020
TAIC report: Top priority for all pilots when flying is to fly the aircraft. All pilots should know the aircraft they are flying, their own capability, the increased risks of flying at low level, monitor performance of aircraft accordingly.
Marine New TAIC inquiry: Interislander ferry Kaitaki loss of power
The Interislander ferry MV Kaitaki lost power at about 5pm on 28 January 2023. It was en-route from Picton to Wellington with about 800 passengers and 80 crew on board when it suffered a main engine failure and loss of propulsion. It dropped anchor and onboard engineers restored power about 2 hours later. The vessel, escorted by tugs, proceeded to port. TAIC is appealing for videos or photographs from ferry passengers and residents of Wellington’s South Coast.
Aviation TAIC investigating Boeing 777 loss of control on ground at Auckland Airport
Shortly after touchdown, a Boeing 777 briefly lost directional control and the aircraft veered away from the runway centreline. The pilot regained control, completed the landing, and taxied the aircraft to the airport terminal. Damage to runway edge lights and aircraft undercarriage. Nobody hurt.
Aviation New TAIC inquiry: two helicopters in proximity incident at Queenstown Airport
TAIC is investigating an aviation incident involving a Eurocopter AS350 ZK-IDB and Eurocopter EC130 ZK-IUP. The two helicopters got too close to each other during hover-taxi departure from Queenstown airport on 27 December 2022.