A Wānaka helicopter company is facing two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act over a crash that claimed three lives.
The three men who died in the helicopter crash near Wānaka Airport (from left) Nick Wallis, Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobold.
Photo: Supplied
An interim report from transport investigators found evidence the chopper crashed in 2018 when a pair of over-trousers flew from a cabin and became caught in a tail rotor.
Pilot Nick Wallis and Department of Conservation workers Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobald all died.
Owners, the Alpine Group, were charged by the Civil Aviation Authority in the Queenstown District Court yesterday, for failing to comply with their duties.
Helicopter company charged over crash that killed three people
10 May, 2021 09:10 PM
2 minutes to read
The Alpine Group Ltd has been charged in relation to a crash on October 18, 2018, which killed pilot Nick Wallis and Department of Conservation employees Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobold. Video / ODT
The Alpine Group Ltd has been charged in relation to a crash on October 18, 2018, which killed pilot Nick Wallis and Department of Conservation employees Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobold. Video / ODT
Otago Daily Times
A Wanaka helicopter company will have to wait until at least October to defend charges over a crash which killed three people in 2018.
The charges were laid by the Civil Aviation Authority in the Queenstown District Court. In an audio visual appearance on Monday lawyers representing the authority and the company sought a date for a three-week judge-alone trial to take place.
Supplied
DOC staff member Paul Hondelink was also killed. Judge John Brandts-Giesen remanded the case until September 30 but said the trial would likely take place later in the year. He excused himself from the trial due to a family connection. The Alpine Group is majority owned by Nick Wallis’ father Tim Wallis and other family members are shareholders.
GEORGE HEARD/STUFF