He said they were unable to give a timeline at this stage and it was an “ongoing investigation”.
On Friday, an unforeseen mechanical failure shortly after take-off led to the “departure of the nose wheel from the airframe”, he said.
After three hours in the air, instructor Lexi Trotter “executed a flawless emergency landing” about 3.30pm, with the student pilot shutting down the engine - preserving the propeller and engine from potential damage and fire hazards.
The incident occurred while Trotter was teaching a student.
A Whanganui Airport Unicom staff member, an ex-student of NZICPA, spotted the missing nose wheel and alerted the pilot and academy.
Fire crews and other emergency services also attended the forced landing.
Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.
