Bell UH1H incident near Manuwatu, New Zealand, Nz, February 27, 2011
On February 27, 2011 at about 8:08 pm local time, a Bell UH1H (helicopter), registered ZKHSP, was substantially damaged in an incident near Manuwatu, New Zealand. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2011 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- Manuwatu, New Zealand, New Zealand
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell UH1H NO SERIES · all UH1Hs on the register
- Registration
- ZKHSP · no longer on the register · serial 66-00869
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
While conducting a positioning flight between Blenheim (South Island NZ) to a lifting job in Raurimu (Central North Island NZ) at approximately 2000 feet altitude, the pilot of a Bell UH1H helicopter, registration number ZK-HSP, noticed the oil pressure fluctuating on the Honeywell T53 engine. He then turned the aircraft towards the beach and selected a suitable precautionary landing site near the Hokio Beach settlement. The pilot stated that before landing, he noticed the engine oil pressure indication drop to zero and a loss of engine power. The helicopter landed hard and rolled on its side. The investigation is being conducted by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission. As the state of manufacture of the airplane and engines, the NTSB has designated a U.S. Accredited Representative under the provisions of Annex 13 to the Convention on Civil Aviation to assist the New Zealand TAIC in their investigation. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: NEW ZEALAND The Chief Executive Officer Transport Accident Investigation Commission 11 Cigna House 40 Mercer Street 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 AFTN: NZHOYAYX Cable: CIVAIR NZ Website: http://www.taic.org.nz
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell T53 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lakeland Helicopters Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Wairau Valley
- Destination: Raurimu
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.