Had Been Denied By The Civil Aviation Authority Of New Zealand

When you buy something like a Hughes 500 helicopter, you kind of want to be able to fly it. Such was the case for AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, who purchased one of the helos in 2011 as a reward to himself for completing three tours with the metal band.

But there was a snag. Rudd had let his pilot's license lapse. When he went to the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority to have it renewed in 2012, the CAA said that Rudd had lied on his medical certificate application and denied the renewal. According to The New Zealand Herald, the CAA said Rudd had not mentioned a 2010 conviction for possession of 25 grams of marijuana that had been found on his boat and elsewhere, which was an indication of prior drug use. The CAA had contended that Rudd had previously admitted using marijuana, but denied that on the form.

The reason might have been because the conviction was overturned on appeal, and on Tuesday, a judge in New Zealand ruled in favor of the rock & roll drummer. While he said Rudd's evidence had some "shortcomings," it was not enough to suspect that Rudd had lied, and he would get the "benefit of the doubt."

Rudd had previously admitted that he failed to maintain a proper logbook between August 2012 and April 2013. For that, he was fined $750 plus court costs and $150 in attorney's fees.

FMI: www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/courts/tauranga