The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a warning that loose items in a helicopter cabin can be fatal.
The warning, published on CAA's website, states recent analysis of helicopter occurrence data has identified a number of accidents and incidents where loose items in the cabin have exited the helicopter and made contact with the tail rotor.
"In some cases, this has resulted in a complete loss of control of the helicopter," the statement reads.
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Pilots and crews must ensure all items in the cabin are securely stowed before take-off, even if they are operating with all doors fitted, CAA says.
Passengers must also be briefed on the dangers of loose items in and around the vicinity of helicopters.
The warning comes just weeks after the fatal helicopter crash near Wanaka that killed pilot Nick Wallis and two Department of Conservation senior rangers, Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobald.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the cause of the crash.
CAA wouldn't comment on whether the warning had anything to do with the Wanaka crash.
"CAA's key focus is on improving safety, and given the results of this analysis, we believed it was timely and necessary to remind the helicopter community of the need to ensure all items in helicopter cabins are secured at all times," a spokesperson told Newshub.
Newshub.
