The Department of Conservation (Doc) is suspending their use of Robinson helicopters following the deaths of two men whose helicopter crashed in Northland on Monday. Allan Jessop and Derek Hammond died when the Robinson 44 they were in crashed in Glenbervie Forest north of Whangarei. Doc said their decision follows the recent crash and the placing of Robinson helicopters on a Transport Accident Investigation Commission 'watchlist'. Monday's crash brought the number of people killed in fatal New Zealand crashes involving Robinson helicopters to 20 since 1996. The crash comes only days after the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) added Robinson Helicopters to its watchlist of safety concerns.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 02, 2016 00:47 UTC