Fatal Crash caused unlikely by Mast Bumping of Robinson R-44 Helicopter in NZ
Fatal Crash caused unlikely by Mast Bumping of Robinson R-44 Helicopter in NZ
An detail report into the Fatal Crash of a Robinson R44 Helicopter in Northland in October has found it is "very unlikely" mast bumping caused the accident. Investigators remove the wreckage of a Robinson R44 helicopter in Glenbervie forest near Whangarei.
Allan Jessop, 42, from Tangiteroria, and Derek Hammond, 49, from Kauri, died when their Helicopter crashed in Glenbervie Forest, north of Whangarei, on 31 October.
The two men had been on a short survey Flight ahead of a forestry spraying run when the accident occurred.The Helicopter crashed into dense native forest about 1pm and the bodies were discovered in the burnt-out wreckage soon.
Robinson Helicopter models have been linked to a problem known as mast bumping and, on 27 October, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) had added this type of occurrence to its watchlist of pressing transport safety concerns. Mast bumping can be elaborated as when the inboard end of a main rotor blade (the spindle) contacts the main rotor driveshaft (or mast).
It can result in the main rotor blades striking the helicopter's cabin, causing it to break up in-flight. TAIC's interim report into the Glenbervie Forest crash said the spread of wreckage meant it was highly unlikely mast bumping was behind the crash.
"The confined nature of the wreckage field, and the type of damage found on the main rotor blades and the tail boom, suggested that it was very unlikely that the helicopter had broken up in-flight or that the accident had been caused by mast bumping."
In a statement, the Robinson Helicopter Company thanked the commission for its thorough and prompt investigation.
It blamed the New Zealand aviation environment for earlier accidents involving its helicopters.
Helisika is the license-holder for Helinorth, the small Northland operator that flew the Robinson that crashed.
"Regarding previous New Zealand Accidents, which involved low-G mast bumping, these appear to stem from certain training, operational culture and regulatory elements unique to New Zealand."
The company applauded the Civil Aviation Authority for seeking to improve the level and consistency of training and said it supported the authority's work.
The company said TAIC's watchlist - and the Department of Conservation suspension on the use of its helicopters - was having a negative effect on operators, their businesses and the economy.
"The improved training and operational procedures being implemented will increase safety and should allow normal Helicopter operations to resume."
The Commission is now investigating further lines of inquiry for October's crash, including the following:
Engine condition before the accident
The pre-impact integrity of the main rotor control system
Weather conditions at the time of the accident
Forestry aerial spraying operations
The maintenance history of the helicopter and its engine
Shortly after the crash, Helisika chief pilot Greg Gribble said the Robinson R44 Helicopter was only a couple of years old and had only about 600 to 700 flying hours on the clock.He further added that the Helicopter was well-maintained at Helisika's Ardmore base.
According to TAIC, there have been five deaths involving a Robinson R44 since 1991.
Over the same period, there have been 14 deaths in accidents involving Robinson R22s and one involving the R66 - a total of 20 deaths.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) quoted, approximately 300 registered Robinson helicopters made up about 40 percent of the country's Helicopters.
Farheen Khursheed Khan [MBA]
Project Manager,
AeroSoft Corp
www.Air-Aviator.blogspot.com
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