The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB WPR17WA016 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Robinson R44 accident near Kamo, New Zealand, Nz, October 30, 2016

On October 30, 2016 at about 11:58 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered ZKHTH, was destroyed in an accident near Kamo, New Zealand. 2 people were 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
October 30, 2016 · about 11:58 pm local time
Place
Kamo, New Zealand, New Zealand
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were killed.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft
Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
Registration
ZKHTH · no longer on the register · serial 13529
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Flight

The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On October 30, 2016, a Robinson R44, ZK-HTH, was destroyed by fire after it collided with terrain near Kamo, New Zealand, The helicopter was operated by Helisika Agricultural Limited under the pertinent regulations of the government of New Zealand. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. 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: Transport Accident Investigation Commission P.O. Box 10323, The Terrace Wellington 6143, New Zealand Level 16, 80 the Terrace Wellington 6011, New Zealand Phone 0800 188 926 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

  1. Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Fire on the ground

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.