Second time lines cut by aircraft

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 3

Second time lines cut by aircraft

The Strikemaster crash yesterday after the jet struck power lines was the second time that an aircraft has hit the power lines in the Waiau area. Mr Bill Spry, district manager of the Electricity Division, said that a topdressing plane had recently gone through the same lines in the same area. The reason for both accidents could be that the lines had only been in place for two or three years, said Mr Spry. Kaikoura electricity had previously been supplied via a 33kV sea coast line from Waipara, he said. But whether the pilots had been aware of the power lines or not, “it is the business of people flying low to know where the hazards are,” he said. Mr Spry said that he did not know much about yesterday’s accident. “About all we know is that the line conductors were broken by an Air Force aircraft. How, we do not know.” Power to Kaikoura had been out for about half an hour before the supply had

been restored through the old line from Waipara. The damaged line was still out of service, said Mr Spry. “Initially our people were not allowed on site. The first opportunity our people had even to look at it was at 1.30 p.m. At this stage I have not had a report on when they will be working on it,” Mr Spry said. The line would be restored as soon as possible, he said. “Apparently there are no poles down, just broken conductors.” Power was also cut to the Parnassus, Claverley, and Oaro areas and part of the Inland Road to the Conway River. The North Canterbury Electric Power Board’s Kaikoura sub-station was taken out of action when the line from Culverden to the sub-station was cut. The general manager of the board, Mr Doug Harris, said that there would be no restriction on the supply, but it was hoped to restore power to the Kaikoura substation from Culverden by today.