Pilot admits Civil Aviation Authority charges

A helicopter pilot has admitted colliding with the center pivot of a large irrigator while crop-spraying at Cromwell, seriously damaging his aircraft and then repairing it, all without the appropriate license or aviation documents.

Daniel James Parker (22), of Ranfurly, appeared in the Alexandra District Court yesterday before Judge Michael Crosbie and pleaded guilty to five charges of committing offenses against the Civil Aviation Act.

He was remanded for a probation report and sentencing on November 14. Michael Morris appeared for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and was given permission to withdraw a further 10 charges faced by Parker, which related to the same incident.

Parker admitted operating a Robinson R22 helicopter on a commercial agricultural aircraft operation at Lochar Downs Farm, Cromwell, on March 16, 2012, without having a commercial pilot's license, an agricultural aircraft operator certificate or an agricultural rating.

He also pleaded guilty to operating the helicopter in a manner that caused unnecessary danger to property - colliding with a centerpoint irrigation system on the farm that day.

The other charges related to his actions after the incident. Parker admitted careless operation of an aircraft by flying it on and off a truck when it was not in an airworthy condition, carrying out repairs on the helicopter without having an aircraft maintenance engineer license and making a false statement to the CAA after the incident, saying the damage was caused by a heavy landing rather than a collision with the irrigator.

The facts summary said Parker was the pilot in command, flying at low level, spraying a kale crop, when the helicopter hit the irrigator.

Despite the helicopter being seriously damaged, he was able to land it nearby and later flew it on to a truck. It had not been inspected by a licensed aviation mechanical engineer to see if it was airworthy to fly, even over a short distance.

The helicopter was taken to a hangar in Cromwell and Parker again flew the helicopter, off the truck and into the hangar.

He carried out repair work on the aircraft and submitted an occurrence report to the CAA with false details about how the damage happened, the facts summary said.

Parker had a private pilot's license but did not hold a commercial pilot's license.

Source:   http://www.odt.co.nz