# NTSB WPR17WA069: Hughes 369E, Raetihi, New Zealand, February 19, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: February 19, 2017
- Place: Raetihi, 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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17WA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17WA069

## 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 February 19, 2017, at 0930 local time, a McDonnell Douglas Hughes 369E, ZK-HRK, operated by Precision Helicopters Ltd. collided with a ridgeline in the Waimarino Forest near Raetihi, New Zealand during an external load operation. The helicopter was being operated in accordance with the pertinent civil regulations of the government of New Zealand. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously 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 of New Zealand Safety Investigations Unit Level 15, Asteron Centre 55 Featherston St Wellington 6011, New Zealand Tel: (64) 04-560-9400

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZK-HRK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 369E (E)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0267E
- Engines: Rolls Royce M250-C20B turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Registered owner: Hill Country Helicopters (1986) 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.