# NTSB WPR17WA083: Robinson R22, Reefton, New Zealand, March 27, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 27, 2017, 03:45 local (03:45 UTC)
- Place: Reefton, 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
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17WA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94957/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17WA083

## 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 27, 2017, about 0345 Universal Time, a Robinson R22, New Zealand registration ZK-IHA, impacted forested terrain about 5.5 miles north of Reefton, West Coast. The pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. It was reported that the purpose of the flight was a private hunting flight.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; case AO-2017-002. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transport Accident Investigation Commission 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

## Aircraft

- Registration: ZK-IHA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0188
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown

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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