New Zealand News

Six German tourists and three New Zealand crew died when an Auckland based Nomad crashed high on the glacier. The accident happened on the Franz Josef glacier, visited by many holidaying Australians. It was New Zealand’s worst air accident since August 1989, when 10 people (including five Canadian and four American tourists) perished after their Britten Norman Islander struck a mountain also in the lower South Island. The nation’s worst domestic air accident took place 30 years ago when a DC-3 crashed in the North Island’s Kaimai Ranges, killing 25 people.

The Nomad pilot, Roy Broughton, 37, set up Hibiscus Air Services in 1990 with the help of a Government grant. While living in Australia in the 1980s he bought his first plane, a Cessna 337. He flew extensively in Australia and crossed the Tasman three times. Much of his 2500 hours flying time had been in twin engined aircraft.

A friend, Graeme Crosby, said Mr Broughton was legally entitled to be flying in the uncontrolled airspace around the glacier. “The fact his arrival coincided with local operators stopping flights (because of the weather) was probably an addition to the long line of small things that led to the final scenario”.

Mr Crosby believes outside operators should be advised when local operators ceased flying because of the weather. He also says there should be some regulatory controls on flights in the Franz Josef area. Rob Storey points out that pilots in South Westland already have an informal code of practice which regulates the way they operate in the glaciers area.

“But,” said Mr Storey, “it doesn’t cover the question of planes which come in from other areas where pilots may know about the required mode of flying, but not have the particular experience. ” The local pilots’ operating requirement proposals are being put to the Civil Aviation Authority.

The 12 seat Nomad N22 aircraft was near the end of a 10 day sightseeing charter trip that had started in Auckland when it struck ice formations. The aircraft slid back a few metres, leaving both propellers embedded in ice at the point of impact. Seats in the Nomad were sheared off their supports.

Govt Blocks Move to Sell Air Base

The NZ Cabinet has intervened to block Defence Department plans to sell the Wigram air force base at Christchurch, until a task force studies options for civilian use of the base.

cians prepared for the November 6 general election. Later the Wigram Airfield Development Support group told the Minister of Defence, Warren Cooper, that they were urging the Christchurch City Council and the Government to decide as soon as possible how to save the air base for civilian use.

Some RNZAF personnel have already been moved from Wigram. The Defence Force has reaffirmed its intention to sell the base as soon as possible after Wigram closes in December 1995.

Another Big Ansett NZ Loss

Despite a 10% increase in revenue, Ansett NZ has recorded an operating loss of $NZ37. 2m in the year to June 30.

This means the airline has lost more than $NZ200m since it started in 1987. No comparative figures for the 1992 year are available but Ansett NZ lost $NZ19. 3m in the 12 months ended June 1991, $NZ43. 8m in 1990 and $NZ52. 5m in 1989. The airline has given no indication of revenue or its consolidated or net position. Ansett NZ is wholly owned by TNT and News Corp.

Ansett NZ said the latest loss included the first full year cost of the ninth BAe 146 introduced last February. Directors say the jetliner is making a positive contribution. The directors also expect the current year to bring a marked improvement.

The latest Ansett NZ results contrast with Air New Zealand’s which says it carried 3,117,000 domestic passengers in the 12 months to June. This is an increase of 117,000 over the previous year. Air New Zealand’s profit for the 1992/93 year rose 21% to $NZ139. 5m.

A few days after releasing details of its 92/93 year, Ansett NZ’s chief executive, Craig Wallace, said the airline was likely to start flying the Tasman in 1994. He expects Immigration authorities to make a decision early in the new year over whether Ansett can operate Tasman flights between its domestic terminals in Australia and New Zealand.

‘Copter Hearse for Crash Pilot

A helicopter was used as a hearse for a pilot who flew in Australia during a 15 year career in which he logged more than 12,000 hours before being killed in a helicopter crash.

The pilot, David George Ashworth, 44, of Wellington, was one of three men killed when a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter, valued at $NZ2m, crashed in a West Coast forest in the South Island. Only days before the crash, a former chief pilot of the helicopter had written to the Civil Aviation Authority about the safety of the helicopter’s aerial logging work.

That letter, by Auckland pilot Grant Ward, had arrived while the Authority was considering whether to renew a certificate allowing the helicopter’s log removal work to continue. Grant Ward and the helicopter’s maintenance contractor withdrew from the logging project near Hokitika, Westland, a week before the crash. Kevin Ward, the CAA director, said the Authority had reissued the initial serial work certificate the day before the crash.

The crashed helicopter was one of two in this country working on the El Salvadorian registry and maintained to their requirements. Under new Civil Aviation rules the Mi-8 helicopters did not require a New Zealand certificate of airworthiness.

Civil Aviation Authority went to El Salvador and assessed one of the helicopters. The CAA followed up its initial assessment after the aircraft had worked in New Zealand for a short time. The first safety audit was scheduled for last month (November) said CAA director Kevin Ward.

Before the two machines arrived here, an officer from the On the day of the crash the Russian helicopter completed a 40 minute training flight before departing for the logging site. With David Ashworth was another pilot, Christopher John Green, also 44, of Tauranga (NIS) and a Canadian engineer from British Columbia. The machine was not carrying logs at the time when it crashed into a swamp from about 500m. A farmer on whose land the helicopter crashed said: “There were two loud bangs, a clatter and then the thud of the machine impacting. My wife looked up and saw what turned out to be the rotor blade. ” The blade was found about 1km from the crash site. The helicopter landed upside down. “It was flattened like someone had put their foot on a tin can. ” said the farmer.

The impact crushed the 5m high cargo area, reported a crewman aboard a RNZAF Iroquois helicopter from Christchurch which carried firemen with cutting equipment to the crash site so the bodies could be removed.

After the funeral services for David Ashworth mourners gathered on a Wellington wharf as his coffin was loaded on to a helicopter for the flight to the cemetery. The helicopter was escorted by two others to the cemetery. Mr Ashworth who was also a fixed wing pilot had worked for the United Nations in Cambodia and Burma and flew professionally in South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the British Isles as well as Australia and New Zealand. A colour photo of the Mi-8 appeared on p73 of our October issue.

Low Flying ‘Copter Pilot Fined

Nearly a year after a helicopter passed just over 1m above a cyclist seconds before it crashed into powerlines, the pilot was fined $NZ8000 on two charges of causing unnecessary danger.

The pilot, Bruce William Dando, 42, faced four civil aviation breaches of dangerous activity and flying below the safe minimum heights on December 12 1992. He pleaded not guilty. Ordering Dando to pay court costs and witness expenses, the judge at Greymouth district court said she would stop short of disqualifying him from flying. The other charges were withdrawn.

The helicopter crashed near Hokitika, Westland, on the West Coast of the South Island.

The court was told Dando, piloting a Hughes 300, took two male passengers (both employed by him) to two hotels and was seen trying to land at a tavern.

Evidence was given by the cyclist who said the helicopter came straight toward him. “It went over at about 4ft above my head and went lower after it passed me,” said Darryl Gray. “I thought it was playing a game. When I turned to watch it, it went into the wires and crashed. ” The three men had suffered varying injuries, the court heard. In a statement to police Dando said he had been at one hotel for 21⁄2 hours but he had not had a drink. Dando told the court he had seen the cyclist and flown about 20m above his head.

Airways Corp Record Profit

Airlines and aviators are benefiting from a record $NZ14. 5m operating profit by the Airways Corporation.

The Corporation, which is responsible for air traffic control and flight services, had reduced its air traffic control fees 10% following its record profit. This means about $NZ2. 3m will be saved by the aviation industry; there will be a saving to Air New Zealand or more than $NZ1m.

Airways Corporation’s executive Andrew Makin said the organisation’s operating profit for the 12 months to June was the highest for one year.

Rex Loach, Corporation chairman, said the after tax profit of $NZ11m exceeded forecasts by $NZ4. 6m. This was due, said Mr Loach, to several factors including a tax credit, reduction in costs and an increase in revenue. The Corporation’s total revenue for the year was $NZ90. 6m.

Inflight Phone Calls

Domestic air passengers can now phone home during a flight. Both major domestic carriers, Air New Zealand and Ansett NZ, are offering the service. Calls will cost $NZ1. 20 a minute and will be paid for by credit card, phonecard or by reverse charge. However, personal cellular phones will still be forbidden on aircraft. The new service follows the devel- opment by Telecom of a cordless phone which does not interfere with the aircraft’s instruments.

Sally Martin, an Air NZ National manager, said one phone would be installed in the 737 business class and another in the economy zone. Ansett NZ says it will also offer an inflight fax service.

Two Eject From Macchi

A Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot and a mechanic successfully ejected at less than 500ft when their Aermacchi 339 jet trainer began to vibrate badly and lose height in the far north of New Zealand.

Pilot Officer Craig Forster and his passenger, Aircraftsman Stephen Gyde, suffered back injuries but the pilot was back at Ohakea base after an overnight stay in hospital.

The jet trainer crashed into a mangrove swamp north of Kaitaia, Northland, 20 minutes into a low level navigational sortie after the Italian built aircraft began to vibrate.

Several heavy lift airbags were used to help recover the jet, the Navy’s operational diving team helping in the operation which also involved a RNZAF Iroquois helicopter, which used a sling to lift the jet trainer.

The crash, the first since the Macchi entered service in 1991, came on the last day of a week long exercise involving eight Macchis from 14 Squadron.

New Zealand paid $NZ266m for 18 Macchis to replace its Strikemaster trainers. The final three jet trainers were delivered this month. Last March the Ministry of Defence noted faults with the jets’ Viper engines, causing them to stall and surge.

The RNZAF notes that the ejection near Rangaunu harbour achieved three firsts for the air force. They were: the first crash of a Macchi in this country, the first dual ejection by New Zealanders in a RNZAF plane and the first non aircrew ejection from an RNZAF jet. Word has it no other RNZAF personnel wants to better this feat!