Now that its been bought up by RVDT, They rumours around the industry at the time of the accident were that they were operating single engine as the Number two engine needed to be repaired and they couldn't afford it. The rumours came from pilots that left the operator as they were worried that they had to fly a twin on logging with OEI!!
They were running around the country lifting logs at $40/tn stating that they could lift 100 tn/hr, which with simple maths gives $4000/hr revenue. We still have guys in the industry doing the same things with the same capacity machines....
Unfortunately a 4,000lb hook load machine in NZ can only move about 40tn/hr with the logging jobs that are available, and the speed that the machine can turn, if you want to have a flyable machine after a year.
40 tn / hr at $40 / tn is only $1600/hr and you go broke! There is no one in NZ that has survived logging because there is no money in it.
But good luck Fordy. lord knows you will need it. firstly going up against CAA, remember they have unlimited time and funds to fight against you, secondly, if you get to start again, its really hard to make money heli logging!