Hughes 369D accident near Lake Sumner, New Zealand, Nz, May 21, 2012
On May 21, 2012 at about 2:00 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered ZKHXZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lake Sumner, New Zealand. 1 person was killed.
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
- May 21, 2012 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Lake Sumner, New Zealand, New Zealand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- ZKHXZ · no longer on the register · serial 1160024D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 21, 2012, at 0200 universal coordinated time, a Hughes 369D, ZK-HXZ, registered to and operated by Way to Go Heliservices, crashed into Lake Sumner, New Zealand, under unknown circumstances. The helicopter sank in 125 meters of water and was not recovered until May 2015. The pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was being operated for agricultural weed spraying under the pertinent civil regulations of the Government of New Zealand. 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. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Civil Aviation Authority Safety Investigations Unit Level 15, Asteron Centre 55 Featherston St Wellington 6011, New Zealand Tel: (64) 04-560-9400
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,998 lb
- 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.