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JOHN BISSET / Stuff
The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating two separate helicopter incidents. (File photo)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is investigating two separate helicopter incidents after both encountered cable strikes.
Both aircraft were Robinson R44 helicopters.
The first occurred on the morning of December 15, near Te Anga, west of Te Kuiti, when the helicopter’s main rotor blade struck power lines and then landed in a clearing.
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The pilot was unharmed, but the power supply was interrupted in about 18 houses.
The second was on December 16, where the pilot was conducting a fumigation operation on the Mahia Peninsula.
The helicopter’s skid hit cables and hit the ground hard. The pilot received moderate injuries and is at Waikato Hospital in stable condition.
The CAA is investigating both accidents with the cooperation of the two operators involved.
A spokesman for the CAA said that any aircraft flying at low levels is at risk of a wire strike. Agricultural aircraft, whether fixed-wing or helicopters, were especially susceptible due to the nature of the pilots’ work.
Cable strikes could be prevented, but only with a well-planned safety program to identify hazards.
