ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 140004
Last updated: 15 June 2019
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| Date: | 23-NOV-2011 |
| Time: | 10:30 LT |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 350B2 Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | Helisika Agricultural Ltd. |
| Registration: | ZK-HIG |
| C/n / msn: | 2500 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Viaduct Harbour, Auckland -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | |
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.
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
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 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] |
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