Renata Apatu was co-owner of Ngamatea Station.
NTSB Identification: WPR18WA169
14 CFR Unknown
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Waiouru, New Zealand
Aircraft: MD HELICOPTER 600, registration:
Injuries: 5 Serious
The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On June 13, 2018, at 2048 Universal Coordinated time, an MD 600N helicopter, ZK-ILD crashed in a remote area for unknown reasons near Waiouru, New Zealand. The pilot and four passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was being operated under the pertinent civil regulations for the Government of New Zealand.
The investigation is under jurisdiction of the Government of New Zealand. This report is for information purposes and contains only information released by the Government of New Zealand. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
The Chief Executive Officer
Transport Accident Investigation Commission
Level 16
80 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
P.O. Box 10-323
Wellington 6143
New Zealand
Tel.: (64) 4-473-0199 (24 hours)
(64) 4-473-3112
E-mail: inquiries@taic.org.nz
Fax: (64) 4-499-1510
Website: http://www.taic.org.nz
The man who died following a helicopter crash near Waiouru is believed to be Hawke's Bay businessman Renata 'Ren' Apatu.
He was one of five people on board, when the chopper crashed about 35km northeast of Waiouru on private land in the Kaweka Ranges.
On Friday afternoon, Hawke's Bay District Health Board issued a statement on behalf of family.
"He was a hugely loved husband, father and brother, and much loved by all his wider family and friends. His death is a tragic loss not only to his family but the wider farming community, and to all those who knew and loved him."
Apatu was a co-owner of the 28,000-hectare Ngamatea Station, which is popular with deer hunters and trout fishers.
Two other men remain in Hawke's Bay Hospital in a serious but stable condition, after the commercial helicopter with five men on board crashed on Thursday morning.
Two other men, one in his 30s and one is 40s, were assessed by St John paramedics after they were flown by rescue helicopter to Hastings' Bridge Pa airfield, but did not need hospital treatment.
The crash happened shortly before 9am on Thursday on private land in the Kaweka Ranges – about 35 kilometres northeast of Waiouru.
The helicopter had been doing a commercial survey operation in the area, and went down in steep hilly and tussock-clad land, a long way from roads.
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Renata Apatu
One man in his 40s is in a critical condition after a commercial helicopter with five men on board crashed near Waiouru.
Another man in his 30s is in a serious condition while a third man in his 30s is in a serious but stable condition.
Two other men were assessed by St John Ambulance paramedics after they were flown by rescue helicopter to Hastings' Bridge Pa airport but did not need hospital treatment.
The crash happened shortly before 9am on Thursday on private land in the Kaweka Ranges – about 35 kilometres northeast of Waiouru.
A distress beacon from the helicopter put the location of the crash at the Oturua Stream, search and rescue mission co-ordinator Dave Wilson said.
The helicopter had been doing a commercial survey operation in the area, and another helicopter from the same company was able to reach the scene quickly, to report on what had happened, before the first rescue crews arrived, he said.
The helicopter went down in steep hilly and tussock-clad land, a long way from roads, said Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter pilot Lance Burns, who flew one of the injured men to hospital.
Rescue helicopters from Taupo and Hastings also went to the scene and each flew one injured man. All three were taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings.
Two other men from the crash were picked up from the scene by another helicopter owned by the company that the crashed helicopter belongs to.
A spokesman for the Transport Accident Investigation Commission said three investigators had been sent to the crash site and were due to arrive on Friday morning.
Chief investigator of accidents Captain Tim Burfoot said the crash involved a Hughes MD600N helicopter.
"The helicopter was on a commercial operation with five people on board when it crashed," he said.
The helicopter had been extensively damaged.
Lakeview Helicopters pilot Brad Williams, who operates commercial and tourist flights from Taupo, said those involved in the industry were keeping in contact and were anxious to find out what had happened.
"It's a bit of a close community, the aviation community – it's supportive. I've had a few phone calls in the last hour.
"In this region they are all very experienced pilots – they know how to deal with things. It's unfortunate."
https://www.stuff.co.nz
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