Date:	Saturday 21 February 1981
Time:
Type:	Aérospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil
Owner/operator:	Helicopters (NZ) Ltd
Registration:	ZK-HQA
MSN:	1139
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Whakaki, Hawke's Bay -   New Zealand
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Fire fighting
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
Helicopter being used for aerial ignition in scrub burning operations, using an underslung burner. Apparently the burner malfunctioned, setting fire to the helicopter. Efforts to put out the fire afer a forced landing were unsuccessful. Whakaki, near Wairoa.
Pilot A Shaw. Registration cancelled 4.4.1981

1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. http://www.flydw.org.uk/DWZKHQU.htm
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://coptercrazy.brinkster.net/search/se350show.asp?start=101&count=50]
Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand Newsletter 1981 No3, and Register Review No17 - August 1981.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
22-May-2009 12:58	XLerate	Added
26-Jun-2014 19:48	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative]
11-May-2018 19:06	Ron Averes	Updated [Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative]
16-Feb-2022 07:49	Ron Averes	Updated [Location, Narrative]
01-Mar-2022 08:21	Ron Averes	Updated [Aircraft type]