New Zealand TAIC investigation into maritime accident with SAR implications.
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New Zealand TAIC investigation into maritime accident with SAR implications.
https://www.taic.org.nz/sites/defaul...l%20Report.pdf
Above is the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission report released today into events surrounding the sinking of a charter fishing vessel "Enchanter" at the Northern tip of New Zealand.
It highlights ( amongst many things) the lack of acceptable SAR capabilities and resources to cover the huge area of the globe that New Zealand is responsible for covering.
As a recently retired pilot from the operator that arrived first on the scene I can only gasp at the media coverage that picks out a few of the lengthy reports findings and recommendations but ignores the most likely cause of the tragedy : namely the skippers decision to " cut the corner" coming around a small island and entering shallow water that created extremely high and sharp waves, one of which swamped the vessel, rolled it over completely ( removing the fly bridge and cabin structure). 5 out of the 10 on board died that night.
The TAIC report explains at great length the investigation into the disparity of the skippers claim of his position and the most likely position ( gained from EPIRB satellite information, backed up by the S76C++ helicopter Trac Plus satellite data of its winch position at the EPIRB location.)
The accident occurred at the very remote and unpopulated part of the country that has witnessed many similar accidents over the years but nothing has been done to provide even basic requirements such as Jet A1 fuel caches up there which would have improved the search .
Without the IFR, NVIS equipped helicopters in Whangarei and Auckland with well trained flight crews none may have survived. I don't think the report adequately highlights the actual weather the aircrew were dealing with that night.
All it takes is a bit of money, decent organisation and the removal of the silos that exist in the emergency services, government departments and parliament.
A court case involving the skipper is pending which may explain the reluctance of media to highlight the obvious cause of the accident but in not mentioning it the casual reader who hasn't read the report may think that the rescue services were to blame...nothing could be further from the truth...they are just the " ambulances at the bottom of the cliff".
Clearly the New Zealand government does need to resource adequate operations to meet its international and legal responsibilities ( see the NZ Civil Aviation Act regarding SAR )
Weird that the report claims the RNZAF using its NH 90's are not to be called out in preference to commercial HEMS operators ( see report) .
Maybe a bit of publicity will prod the NZ Govt into providing a dedicated SAR service that is fit for purpose.
Above is the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission report released today into events surrounding the sinking of a charter fishing vessel "Enchanter" at the Northern tip of New Zealand.
It highlights ( amongst many things) the lack of acceptable SAR capabilities and resources to cover the huge area of the globe that New Zealand is responsible for covering.
As a recently retired pilot from the operator that arrived first on the scene I can only gasp at the media coverage that picks out a few of the lengthy reports findings and recommendations but ignores the most likely cause of the tragedy : namely the skippers decision to " cut the corner" coming around a small island and entering shallow water that created extremely high and sharp waves, one of which swamped the vessel, rolled it over completely ( removing the fly bridge and cabin structure). 5 out of the 10 on board died that night.
The TAIC report explains at great length the investigation into the disparity of the skippers claim of his position and the most likely position ( gained from EPIRB satellite information, backed up by the S76C++ helicopter Trac Plus satellite data of its winch position at the EPIRB location.)
The accident occurred at the very remote and unpopulated part of the country that has witnessed many similar accidents over the years but nothing has been done to provide even basic requirements such as Jet A1 fuel caches up there which would have improved the search .
Without the IFR, NVIS equipped helicopters in Whangarei and Auckland with well trained flight crews none may have survived. I don't think the report adequately highlights the actual weather the aircrew were dealing with that night.
All it takes is a bit of money, decent organisation and the removal of the silos that exist in the emergency services, government departments and parliament.
A court case involving the skipper is pending which may explain the reluctance of media to highlight the obvious cause of the accident but in not mentioning it the casual reader who hasn't read the report may think that the rescue services were to blame...nothing could be further from the truth...they are just the " ambulances at the bottom of the cliff".
Clearly the New Zealand government does need to resource adequate operations to meet its international and legal responsibilities ( see the NZ Civil Aviation Act regarding SAR )
Weird that the report claims the RNZAF using its NH 90's are not to be called out in preference to commercial HEMS operators ( see report) .
Maybe a bit of publicity will prod the NZ Govt into providing a dedicated SAR service that is fit for purpose.
Weird that the report claims the RNZAF using its NH 90's are not to be called out in preference to commercial HEMS operators
Until the air ambulance tender in 2018 (itself a watered down version of the intended direction of travel), it could have been an AS350 conducting SAR. The NZ gov budget for commercial SAR was <5% of annual revenue for the HEMS operators as a rough figure.
It beggars belief that a country like NZ, surrounded by very remote ocean, still funds its air ambulance system predominantly through pokies and collection buckets, and has a military asset based in one (inland) location which is secondary to a hotchpodge of twins, all with mixed ability, no unified SAR SOP's and operating on a financial bootstrap.
Edited to add - this is a criticism of the NZ government, not the HEMS operators who do what they can given the constraints.
It beggars belief that a country like NZ, surrounded by very remote ocean, still funds its air ambulance system predominantly through pokies and collection buckets, and has a military asset based in one (inland) location which is secondary to a hotchpodge of twins, all with mixed ability, no unified SAR SOP's and operating on a financial bootstrap.
Edited to add - this is a criticism of the NZ government, not the HEMS operators who do what they can given the constraints.
Due to the suddenness of the capsize none of the people were wearing or had access to life jackets,
The passengers were told that all the life jackets were stowed under the bunks in the forward passenger cabin but were not shown what they looked like or how to put them on
In a previous life I was involved in contributing (aviation advice) to the planning of oil and gas exploration activities (seismic and drilling) around the world. I was always taken aback by the situation in NZ, and what it meant for ERP and MEDEVAC planning.
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I think the helicopter crews did a pretty good job since they are not dedicated SAR crews and probably get minimal training time allocated - but yes, the organisation is pretty dire for a country with so much coastline and big terrain.
How is there not a proper SAR helicopter service there? Clearly money has not been spent by the Govt - 91% of the SAR service are volunteers, wonderful community support but well intentioned amateurs do not a professional SAR service make.
How is there not a proper SAR helicopter service there? Clearly money has not been spent by the Govt - 91% of the SAR service are volunteers, wonderful community support but well intentioned amateurs do not a professional SAR service make.
I think the helicopter crews did a pretty good job since they are not dedicated SAR crews and probably get minimal training time allocated
