BK17, vicinity Auckland Islands New Zealand, 2019

BK17, vicinity Auckland Islands New Zealand, 2019

Summary

On 22 April 2019, a Eurocopter-Kawasaki BK-117C-1 helicopter was being positioned for an aeromedical evacuation the following day when it was unintentionally flown into the sea at night. The three crew members were able to evacuate from the partially submerged aircraft before it sank. The accident was attributed to the single pilot’s loss of situational awareness due to loss of visual depth perception when using night vision goggles. The relevant aircraft operator procedures and the applicable regulatory requirements were both found be inadequate relative to the operational risk which the flight involved.

Description

On 22 April 2019, a Eurocopter-Kawasaki BK-117C-1 helicopter (ZK-IMX) was being positioned VFR by Southern Lakes Helicopters from the operator’s Te Anau Heliport to the Auckland Islands for a planned medical evacuation of a fishing vessel crew member the following day. Although planned as a day flight, it was delayed and continued at night. As it neared the planned landing site on Enderby Island, it was unintentionally flown into the sea where, after briefly remaining partially submerged, it sank shortly after the three crew on board had escaped from it, one only with assistance from the other two. 

BK17 Auckland Islands 2019 accident location

The remote Southern Ocean location of the intended destination and the accident site. [Reproduced from the Official Report]

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