Chopper pilot to be charged.

[corsair67]

I'm sure the pilot didn't intentionally crash his chopper!

I really don't understand these cases.


From stuff.co.nz -
www.stuff.co.nz/4590043a12855.html



Ruapehu pilot charged
The Dominion Post | Friday, 20 June 2008



A Taupo helicopter pilot who crash-landed near the Mt Ruapehu crater lake with four passengers on board has been charged.

Helistar Helicopters owner Bruce Campbell Lilburn appeared in Taupo District Court yesterday charged with causing unnecessary danger to his passengers on December 11, 2006.

Lilburn, 35, has yet to enter a plea to the charges, which the Civil Aviation Authority laid.

He and co-pilot Adrian Tetherbridge had just picked up Conservation Department staff George Taylor, Ross Martin and Melissa Vedder from the crater when the Hughes helicopter lost power and crashed, coming to rest partly in the crater lake.

All the occupants suffered injuries, including a broken ankle and arm, spinal injuries, hypothermia and head cuts. Mr Taylor ended up face down in the water and feared he would drown.

Lilburn broke an ankle but managed to climb a steep ice bank above the crater rim and walk for an hour to Whakapapa ski-field to raise the alarm.

A second helicopter picked up the others, who huddled together wrapped in carpet from the downed helicopter to keep warm.

[Dave Homewood]

Why has it taken so long to bring the case against him?

[sleemanj]

Why has it taken so long to bring the case against him?

Because the wheels of both justice and the CAA turn quite slowly, I'd say a year to investigate, three or four months of being passed around the department, lawyers and consultant specialists to decide to prosecute, and a few months for it to get into to the justice system etc.

There is a short article in the current Aviation News about the poor situation of investigation and prosecution being the same department in the CAA with no separation, generally I'm supportive of the CAA, but having this situation is completely stupid, the role of investigations should be to just establish the facts, not look for prosecutory actions it is counter intuitive to getting the result required.