# NTSB WPR14WA148: MD Helicopter 500N, Gisborne, New Zealand, New Zealand, March 19, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 19, 2014, 20:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Gisborne, New Zealand, New Zealand
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14WA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14WA148

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On March 19, 2014, at 2030 universal coordinated time, a MD Helicopters 500N, ZK-HQP, was preparing for a fire lighting operation when it crashed in Hawkes Bay near Gisborne, New Zealand. The helicopter was operated by Gisborne Helicopters Limited under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of New Zealand. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of New Zealand. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of New Zealand. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Civil Aviation Authority Safety Investigations Unit Level 15, Asteron Centre 55 Featherston St Wellington 6011, New Zealand Tel: (64) 04-560-9400

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZK-HQP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTER 500N (N)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: LN093
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Registered owner: Gisborne Helicopters Limited

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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