Date:	Saturday 29 October 1994
Time:	10:00 LT
Type:	Aérospatiale AS 350B
Owner/operator:	The Helicopter Line
Registration:	ZK-HWV
MSN:	1813
Year of manufacture:	1985
Engine model:	Turbomeca Arriel 1B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Waikukupa Valley, Westland NP -   New Zealand
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
Departure airport:	Fox Glacier Helipad
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	TAIC
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
An Aérospatiale AS 350B operated by The Helicopter Line impacted mountainous terrain near Fox Glacier, New Zealand, killing all 7 on board.

The helicopter was on a visual scenic flight from Fox Glacier Helipad up Waikukupa Valley to a snow landing on Baumann Glacier. While the weather was deteriorating, it may have been suitable on the route at the time.
En route, the helicopter collided with the southern side of the Waikukupa Valley at an elevation of about 2750 feet amsl.
It is probable that the pilot flew the helicopter into cloud inadvertently while intending to fly beneath it towards clear conditions further up the valley.
The loss of visibility and resulting disorientation in cloud probably caused the pilot to fly the helicopter into the side of the valley.

1. https://taic.org.nz/AviationReports/tabid/78/ctl/Detail/mid/482/InvNumber/1994-023/Page/17/Default.aspx

Ex-VH-HRD; became ZK-HWV in November 1988. Registration ZK-HWV cancelled July 1995 as aircraft \"destroyed\".

Other occurrences involving this aircraft


3 February 1988

VH-HRD

0

Archerfield Airport (YBAF), Archerfield, QLD

sub

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
12-Apr-2009 23:52	XLerate	Added
19-Jan-2011 08:24	harro	Updated [Operator, Phase, Damage, ]
03-Jul-2014 19:56	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ]
01-Feb-2022 10:12	Ron Averes	Updated [Location, ]
17-Oct-2024 06:47	ASN	Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ]