Mechanical problem not seen before, says plane maker

Skydive Taupo Pacific Aerospace 750 XTOL known as Pinky.

The type of New Zealand-built aircraft involved in yesterday's skydiving crash has never been in an accident due to a mechanical error before, its maker says.

The custom-made PAC 750XL - produced by Hamilton-based Pacific Aerospace and operated by Skydive Taupo - crashed into Lake Taupo after a suspected engine problem.

Skydive Taupo's aircraft was first registered in 2005, according to the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) register.

Pacific Aerospace advertises the model as being globally recognised as "the ultimate skydiving platform providing unmatched safety, productivity and profitability for its operators".

The model has been involved in a number of other incidents, including an ocean ditching near San Francisco, a mid-air collision in Britain and a runway crash in Papua.

Pacific Aerospace chief Damian Camp said the company had built 93 of the aircraft to date, but none had crashed due to mechanical faults.

"The only incidents we've ever had with crashes have all been due to pilot error. "Early indications - and we're still waiting for details - are that there was an engine issue on this aircraft, XL-122," Mr Camp said.

Yesterday's crash was "one of those things - it does happen from time to time," he said. "The witness indications would suggest there's an engine problem - we don't manufacture the engine."

The engine was a Canadian-built Pratt and Whitney TP6, used in dozens of different aircraft, Mr Camp said. Pacific Aerospace had never suffered any previous issues with the engine model.

"It's a very well-regarded engine, very reliable, so it'll be interesting to see what the actual issues were with this one in particular."

Mr Camp said he had been in contact with the CAA and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission following the crash.

Crashes involving PAC 750XL

December 2003
A pilot flying a PAC 750XL from Hamilton to California, via American Samoa, Kiribati and Hawaii, reported a problem with his fuel system and ditched the aircraft in the ocean near San Francisco. He was found dead.

December 2007
Two people were killed when a PAC 750XL collided with another light plane in Britain. The PAC 750XL with three people on board managed to land safely.

September 2008
A PAC 750XL was involved in a fatal crash in Switzerland after dropping off 17 paratroopers. The plane plunged into a forest and the pilot and his passenger died.

February 2010
In Portugal, an ex-military officer hijacked a PAC 750XL at gunpoint. A skydiving instructor and his client were forced out of the aircraft in mid-air and the pilot escaped after performing a crash landing. The hijacker then killed himself.

December 2011
A pilot and passenger were killed when their PAC 750XL skidded off a wet runway and burst into flames at Abmisibil Airport in Papua.