Report released into helicopter emergency landing

LANDING: A Volcanic Air Safaris helicopter made an emergency landing in Lake Rotorua in 2013.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the 2013 Volcanic Air Safaris helicopter ditching in Lake Rotorua.

On February 24 2013, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter operated by Volcanic Air Safaris Limited departed on its second scenic flight for the day, with the pilot and three passengers on board, when the engine lost power.

The pilot put the helicopter into autorotation and turned the helicopter towards the shoreline, where she carried out a successful ditching in shallow water near the lake edge.

The pilot and passengers were able to evacuate the helicopter uninjured. They were picked up shortly afterwards by a nearby jet boat.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission determined that the most likely cause of the engine power loss was a malfunctioning of the engine's right magneto.

The malfunction was caused by engine oil that had accumulated in the magneto because an oil slinger had been omitted during a maintenance procedure, the report said.

The Commission also found that the imported, second-hand engine and its associated records had not been subjected to the required level of scrutiny before they were released to service, although it is unlikely that this safety issue contributed to the power loss.

In its report the Commission made several recommendations, including one to the Director of Civil Aviation to promote the use of quick-donning life jackets for all occupants of single-engine aircraft flying over water.

The report, released this morning, said purchasers of aviation parts sourced without the accompanying proper documentation needed to research thoroughly the service histories of the components, along with certifying engineers carrying out the required conformity inspections.

For more information visit www.taic.org.nz.