’Copter crash mystifying
Wellington reporter
The crash of a helicopter near Hawarden has mystified the Office of Air Accidents. In a report the office said that it could not account for the sudden engine failure that occurred while the helicopter was spraying gorse on a hill property on October 19, 1981.
The helicopter was flying about 30 knots. 50 feet above ground level over a ridge, when the engine stopped. The pilot dumped his load and headed towards lower ground
about 100 feet below.
But insufficient speed and height prevented total control, the skids collapsed and the helicopter rolled over. The Office of Air Accidents said there was no evidence, on inspection, of any mechanical failure, or defects or abnormalities that might have contributed to power loss. Although atmospheric conditions might have caused carburettor ice, the pilot was using selective heat control to reduce the likelihood of power loss.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 7 March 1983, Page 25
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149’Copter crash mystifying Press, 7 March 1983, Page 25
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