Fish and Game considering Robinson helicopter use

A Robinson helicopter flies near Queenstown earlier this year. Photo / David Williams

Otago Fish and Game Council staff have recommended the continued use of Robinson helicopters, in contrast to other organisations that have stopped using them.

The council will this week consider a report from staff that says the continued use of Robinson 22 helicopters is needed for the ongoing monitoring of the mallard populations in Otago.

The council has used a Robinson 22 helicopter for aerial monitoring of mallard populations in South Otago since 2015, and occasionally uses them for other projects.

The report said any change in helicopter make or model may add ''an additional complexity'' to the variables in the dataset collected.

''It is thought that other larger helicopter models (i.e. Hughes 500, Jet Ranger) would cause additional disturbance to the mallard ducks.

This is because larger helicopters cause more rotor wash and are generally louder. This additional disturbance would affect the variability of the data collected and data from previous surveys could not be compared. They are almost prohibitively expensive for this task.''

All Robinson aircraft were placed on the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) watchlist last October. Since 1996 the commission had investigated 14 ''mast bumping'' accidents involving Robinsons, resulting in the deaths of 18 people. Mast bump is contact between an inner part of a main rotor blade or a rotor hub and the main rotor drive shaft.

After the helicopters were put on the watchlist many government organisations stopped using Robinson helicopters, including the Department of Conservation and the Otago Regional Council (ORC).

ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker said the ORC would continue not to use Robinson helicopters while they were on the TAIC watchlist, but would re-evaluate their use if they were taken off the watchlist.

The Fish and Game report said its use of Robinson helicopters had been reviewed following Doc's decision to stop using them.

The TAIC had made various recommendations to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regarding Robinson helicopters, the report said. CAA had adopted the recommendations, adjusted pilot operating manuals and updated the owners of those types of machines.

Modifications included more specific training for low-gravity situations, restrictions on flying in adverse weather and minimum levels of experience for pilots - all aspects which were thought to have contributed to mast bumping and in-flight break-up, the Fish and Game report said.

It said Fish and Game had been ''reassured'' by CAA that Robinson 22 class helicopters were still suitable for use - with those modifications - and allowed for commercial work under good flying conditions.

''As the CAA has determined them to be safe for commercial work under certain conditions then staff can see no reason for not continuing to use them subject to a few conditions.''

The conditions were: that only suitably experienced pilots be used; that the mallard monitoring is only completed in suitable weather conditions; that the Fish and Game staff member is comfortable flying in the Robinson 22 helicopter to undertake the monitoring; and if for any reason the staff member becomes concerned at any stage before or during the flight with conditions and/or with the competency of the pilot, they must terminate the flight.