Robinson R44 - II accident near Waikaia, Nz, January 23, 2015
On January 23, 2015, a Robinson R44 - II (helicopter), registered ZKHPC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Waikaia. 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 accident. 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
- January 23, 2015
- Place
- Waikaia, New Zealand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 - II II · all R44 - IIs on the register
- Registration
- ZKHPC · no longer on the register · serial 10525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 23, 2015, a Robinson R44 II experienced a severe in-flight vibration, after which the pilot successfully landed the helicopter. A subsequent inspection found a crack on one of the main rotor blades. This incident is being investigated by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and the NTSB is participating as the United States Accredited Representative to the New Zealand TAIC as the State of Design and State of Manufacture of the helicopter. For additional information, contact the New Zealand TAIC at: Transport Accident Investigation Commission Level 16 AXA Centre 80 The Terrace P.O. Box 10323 The Terrace Wellington 6143 New Zealand Tel.: (64) 4-473-0199 E-mail: inquiries@taic.org.nz Fax: (64) 4-499-1510 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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft structural failure during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
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.