CASA Move Comes After Fatal Accident In New Zealand

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive grounding certain Robinson R44 helicopters operating in that country following a fatal accident in New Zealand.

The order affects aircraft that use C0167 rotor blades. Investigators believe that a main rotor blade failed on an aircraft in New Zealand last week, resulting in the fatal injury of the two people on board the helicopter.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, according to CASA spokesman Peter Gibson, there are 485 R44 helicopters registered to operate in Australia. He said it was unknown how many of those use the C0167 rotor blade. About half of the aircraft registered in New Zealand reportedly have the blades installed.

The aircraft are grounded until further notice. Gibson said that the authority would be "working on the next steps as soon as possible.  It's a precautionary measure. The analysis will hopefully give us the answer to what the problem is and what needs to be done." A new set of blades for the aircraft reportedly costs about $70,000 Australian.

(U.S.-registered R44 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.casa.gov.au