Accident Aérospatiale AS 350B2 Ecureuil ZK-HIG,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 140004
 
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Date:Wednesday 23 November 2011
Time:10:30 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic AS50 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Aérospatiale AS 350B2 Ecureuil
Owner/operator:Helisika Agricultural Ltd.
Registration: ZK-HIG
MSN: 2500
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Viaduct Harbour, Auckland -   New Zealand
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities
Narrative:
The pilot of an Aérospatiale AS 350B2 Ecureuil had just lifted a pylon to set up a seven storey high Telecom-sponsored Christmas tree in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour and descending slowly when main rotor clipped a cable and the helicopter flipped and crashed. The pilot survived with only some bruises.

The safety investigation revealed that the SK75 Spectra lifting line did not release normally from the helicopter’s hook when commanded, after the tower lift. This was primarily due to the attachment of the lifting line fixed loop directly to the hook, instead of using a shackle and chain arrangement between the lifting line and the hook.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: 
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/helicopter-pilot-back-home-after-amazing-escape-4560847
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/auckland-chopper-crash-midday-update-video-4562662
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/helicopter-erecting-telecom-christmas-tree-crashes-auckland-ne-104888
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6017775/Chopper-crashes-on-Auckland-waterfront
Preliminary report: http://www.caa.govt.nz/public_and_media_info/images/HIG_prelim.pdf
Final report: http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/zk-hig_final_rep.pdf issued in 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5aMT9MBfZI&feature=player_detailpage (video)
http://www.airliners.net/photos/airliners/1/7/3/1322371.jpg (photo)

Images:


Ardmore 6May2008


Media:

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
22-Nov-2011 18:22 RobertMB Added
23-Nov-2011 07:34 flyernzl Updated
23-Nov-2011 13:28 flyflyfly Updated [Embed code]
17-Jun-2012 06:53 RobertMB Updated [Embed code]
17-Jun-2012 06:55 RobertMB Updated [Embed code]
17-Jun-2012 06:56 RobertMB Updated [Source]
28-Jul-2015 17:57 Iceman 29 Updated [Narrative, Photo, ]
26-Mar-2018 10:18 Aerossurance Updated [Time, Nature, Source, Narrative]
26-Mar-2018 10:19 Aerossurance Updated [Source, Narrative]
09-May-2021 17:25 Iceman 29 Updated [Embed code]
11-Oct-2021 14:23 harro Updated [Accident report]

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