ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 213549
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| Date: | Saturday 21 July 2018 |
| Time: | 13:30 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Raven II |
| Owner/operator: | Alpine Helicopters, Ltd. |
| Registration: | ZK-HTB |
| MSN: | 11259 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2006 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Lake Wanaka, Otago -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Wanaka Airport (WKA/NZWF) |
| Upper Estuary Burn Valley | |
| Investigating agency: | TAIC |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Robinson R44 helicopter, registered ZK-HTB, was en route from Wanaka to Upper Estuary Burn Valley when it suddenly departed controlled fight and crashed into Lake Wanaka, killing the pilot who was the sole occupant.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (Commission) found that the helicopter was likely to have encountered unexpected turbulence of a magnitude sufficient to result ultimately in the in-flight break-up of the helicopter.
The Commission also found that the helicopter’s speed at the last position report likely increased the risk of an adverse outcome in the mountainous operating environment.
The Commission further found that investigations into loss-of-control or mast bumping accidents involving Robinson Helicopter Company helicopters continue to be hampered by a lack of data. Allied with this is a lack of understanding of how the main rotor performs in adverse conditions. This lack of factual information has limited the effectiveness of safety investigations.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/105660623/search-at-lake-wanaka-for-overdue-chopper
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/wanaka/warbirds-founders-son-missing-after-helicopter-crash
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12093144
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-search-helicopter-lake-wanaka
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/362344/search-for-pilot-matt-wallis-turns-to-body-recovery
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105684541/Body-of-missing-pilot-recovered-from-Lake-Wanaka-following-search
________________________
https://alpineheli.co.nz/scenic-flights/mount-aspiring-glacier-discovery
Aircraft type: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7603397
Per New Zealand registry updates: Robinson R44 II, c/n 11259, ZK-HTB deregistered 08/02/2018 "Destroyed"
Location
Media:
TAIC has opened an inquiry into a helicopter crash at Lake Wanaka in Otago today, Saturday 21 July 2018, involving a Robinson R44 helicopter. Two investigators are due to arrive at the accident site tomorrow. https://t.co/yZs4lWizOm
— NZ TAIC (@NZTAIC) 21 juillet 2018
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Jul-2018 07:28 | Iceman 29 | Added |
| 22-Jul-2018 00:28 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code] |
| 22-Jul-2018 09:09 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Jul-2018 09:36 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 22-Jul-2018 10:59 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Total fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
| 23-Jul-2018 12:45 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Phase, Source, Narrative] |
| 06-Aug-2018 15:34 | Terry Smith | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 08-Aug-2020 04:22 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, Departure airport] |
| 04-Feb-2022 22:39 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 21-Oct-2023 08:47 | harro | Updated [[Location]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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