Helicopter window blows out

An investigation has been launched after a window blew on a Navy Seasprite helicopter carrying a photographer and a civilian television cameraman covering the arrival of the frigate Canterbury's last voyage into Auckland.

As the Canterbury entered Auckland Harbour on Thursday, the window "departed from the aircraft", the Navy said.

There were no injuries and the helicopter flew back to its base at Whenuapai without incident.

Commander Sandra McKie said the window fell outwards but a crew member managed to grab the window rim, lessening the damage.

"It was just one of those things."

A flight safety investigation would be conducted to determine what had happened to the window.

The Kaman SH-2G Seasprite was selected as the replacement helicopter for the Navy in March 1997. The Navy now has five of them.

The 16m-long, 6136kg Seasprites are carried on the frigates Te Kaha, Te Mana and Canterbury.

The incident is not the first for the New Zealand Navy's Seasprites.

Last May one aboard HMNZS Te Mana in the Gulf of Oman was seriously damaged when its engines were started with the aircraft not properly lashed down.

The crew members involved were censured and the repair bill was possibly as high as $4 million.

- NZPA