Faulty maintenance caused Murchison copter crash

The Robinson R22 ZK-HVN crashed near Murchison on August 26, 2005.

Rayleen Heney always believed her husband was too good a helicopter pilot to cause the crash that claimed his life.

Yesterday the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) agreed, blaming faulty maintenance on the Robinson helicopter before the crash on August 26 last year that killed father of nine Phillip Devon Heney, 52.

In its report released yesterday, the CAA said maintenance staff failed to correctly assemble the helicopter's tail rotor-drive shaft, and its failure led to the crash near Murchison, which also seriously injured passenger Hamish Teddy.

Two men, aged 58 and 55, have been charged with manslaughter arising from a police investigation into the crash. The pair are due to appear in the Nelson District Court tomorrow.

Mrs Heney yesterday told the Herald her family was still "absolutely devastated" over losing a husband and father. She never believed for a moment that the crash was her husband's fault.

"My husband was an excellent pilot. We all knew that. He was one of the best pilots out there. He was our best friend as well as a husband, and somebody took that from us."

Mrs Heney did not want to comment on the CAA report, other than to say: "It doesn't make anything easier."

Mr Teddy had been instructed not to comment on the report with a court case under way.

Before the accident, the helicopter had been stored at the premises of the maintenance organisation since April 2005, to undergo a main rotor-blade replacement, a 100-hour annual inspection and "defect rectification".

"On the day of the accident, once satisfied that the helicopter was operating correctly, the pilot departed from the maintenance organisation for the flight to his home base. He flew for approximately 120 minutes, arriving at his home base at 3.15pm," the CAA report said.

"Later that afternoon [Mr Teddy] visited the household and as the weather was favourable for flying and the pilot was eager to use his helicopter, he invited his friend to be the shooter on a short deer-hunting flight.

"The 45-minute flight was without incident and after unsuccessfully pursuing some deer, the pilot elected to return home.

"During the approach to land, the helicopter was seen to yaw rapidly to the right and continue to rotate uncontrollably before crashing close to the intended landing site."

The CAA said the helicopter had been issued with an airworthiness certificate which was effectively invalid because CAA rules had not been followed in maintenance.

"By electing to release the helicopter to service without having taken the required steps to comply with the rules, the certifying licensed aircraft-maintenance engineer eliminated multiple layers of safety."

Unlicensed maintenance staff had assembled the helicopter shaft without supervision.

"The CAA has taken action to suspend the licence of the certifying licensed aircraft-maintenance engineer, and at his request the matter has been placed on hold to give him the opportunity to make submissions following the outcome of investigations by other authorities.

"The CAA is considering the suitability of the assisting licensed aircraft-maintenance engineer to hold a licence."