The Singapore-registered Kota Bahagia, berthed at Napier, was carrying general cargo, machinery and components when the fire broke out. All crew have been accounted for. Harald Hendel, chief investigator of accidents at the commission, had appointed a team of two investigators for the inquiry. They were due on-site on Saturday. “The investigation team has expert knowledge of marine operations, engineering, maintenance and electronic forensics,” Hendel said.
A fire broke out on a ship docked at Napier Port on Friday morning. Work would include interviewing witnesses and inspecting the ship’s hold when it’s re-opened, along with its contents and other parts when safe to do so.
Inspectors at the crash site in Kekerengu.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
A witness reported seeing the Airbus Helicopter EC120 spiralling out of control and plummeting to the ground close to the helicopter landing site near a cafe.
In July this year the American Federal Aviation Administration issued an updated airworthiness directive for all Airbus EC120b helicopters, prompted by matters associated with their tail rotor blades.
It said that a changed manufacturing process for the tail rotor blades was implemented, affecting the structural characteristics of the blades and generating a new part number for these blades.
The new directive required operators to re-identify each affected rotor blade had a certain part number and serial number, and establish a life limit for the new part numbers.
Thursday, 17 December 2020, 6:02 am
A Transport Accident Investigation Commission team has
been on site today at the Kekerengu River mouth, commencing
investigations into the causes and circumstances of a fatal
accident involving an Airbus Helicopter EC120.
The
Chief Investigator of Accidents, Harald Hendel, says the
helicopter with five persons on board lost control,
descended and impacted shallow water close to the beach at
around 12:40pm yesterday, 15 December 2020.
“This
opening stage of the investigation has involved a great deal
of work by the on-site team and their colleagues in
Wellington,” said Mr Hendel.
“Today, the
investigation team has been inspecting the wreckage, mapping
Kaikōura helicopter crash: Shocked friends of Andrew and Lin Davidson gather at family s Ohoka home
16 Dec, 2020 01:56 AM
8 minutes to read
Locals raced to help free survivors from the wreckage of a helicopter that came down at a rivermouth north of Kaikōura. Video / Will Trafford
Locals raced to help free survivors from the wreckage of a helicopter that came down at a rivermouth north of Kaikōura. Video / Will Trafford
NZ Herald
Devastated friends of the couple killed in yesterday s horror helicopter crash north of Kaikōura have gathered at their family home.
Pilot Andrew Hamish Davidson, 60, and wife Lin Chen, 39, died when their new helicopter crashed at a stony beach 30km north of Kaikōura at about 12.40pm yesterday while on a family trip.