ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 46411
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| Date: | Saturday 10 January 2004 |
| Time: | 11:30 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | ZK-HXT |
| MSN: | 3060 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2000 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Rotokawa, Taupo -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Taupo Airport North Island, New Zealand (TUO/NZAP) |
| Te Puke, Bay of Plenty | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA NZ |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The helicopter, with its two occupants, departed Taupo airport after refueling, and initially flew along the Taupo lake front, then overhead the Taupo race course, and then departed the township towards the north east. Recorded radio transmissions suggested a flight to Te Puke was intended. Both the pilot and his passenger had various appointments later that afternoon, and when these were not kept, the alarm was raised later that evening.
As no flight plan, detailed intentions, or witness sightings were available, an extensive aerial search by helicopters was necessary between Taupo and Te Puke. This proved challenging, given the large geographical area, and many heavily forested areas to be searched. The search was complicated by the area having a lot of daily helicopter traffic, so a number of unrelated helicopter sightings had to be investigated. The wreckage was eventually discovered in the
vicinity of high voltage power line pylons, by a truck driver, 12 km north east of Taupo near Lake Rotokawa.
Some days later, a group of youths who had been swimming in the nearby Waikato River, came forward with a description of loud 'banging and whacking sounds' that they attributed to a helicopter noise, which had ceased suddenly.
Although they never sighted the helicopter, given the close proximity to the accident site, which was blocked from their view by a stand of pine trees, it is highly probable that they heard the accident. This indicates that the accident occurred at about 11:30 hours on 10 January, when the helicopter was outbound from Taupo airport and only about 15 minutes into the flight.
The late notification was due to the youths being on holiday, not listening to the news, and therefore being unaware of the search. The accident occurred in daylight, at approximately 11:30 hours, near Taupo, at an elevation of 1,170 feet. Latitude: 37°14.4' S, longitude: 175°14.1'E.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. https://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/ZK-HXT_Fatal.pdf.
2. https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/114874-nz-another-helicopter-missing.html
3. http://www.rotorspot.nl/product/r22.php
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Nov-2008 10:35 | ASN archive | Added |
| 06-Sep-2016 12:47 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-May-2018 02:59 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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