On 7 October 2014, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration ZK-HBQ, collided with terrain in the Kahurangi National Park, near Nelson, New Zealand.
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the accident. As part of its investigation, TAIC requested technical assistance from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in the recovery of data from a damaged GPS unit recovered from the wreckage. To protect the information supplied by TAIC to the ATSB and the ATSB's investigative work to assist TAIC, the ATSB initiated an investigation under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
The ATSB successfully recovered data from the GPS unit and has provided the data to TAIC to assist with their investigation.
Enquiries relating to the accident investigation should be directed to TAIC at: www.taic.org.nz
______________
Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.