What happened
On the morning of December 23, 2001, the pilot was performing agricultural spreading tasks near Otonga, including the application of superphosphate and urea on a maize crop near Whangarei. Following the completion of these tasks around 11:30 hours, the crew decided to proceed to a site at Paiaka to spread approximately 112 tonnes of lime. This specific task had been delayed since December 13 due to unfavorable wind conditions.
Upon arrival at the Paiaka site, the loader driver observed that moisture had entered the fertilizer bin under the edges of the cover, making the lime damp near the bin walls. This moisture had also been noted by a delivery driver earlier in the week. As the operation progressed, the loader driver began using the damp lime, manually mixing material from the sides of the bin with the center to maintain flow.
At approximately 14:25 hours, the pilot signaled for a refueling stop earlier than the originally anticipated time. During this period, the loader driver observed the aircraft operating at what sounded like full power. The pilot appeared to be maneuvering the aircraft in an attempt to dislodge material from the hopper. A small amount of lime was seen discharging from the aircraft during this maneuver. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared behind terrain into a valley, roughly 1,500 meters from the work area. The loader driver subsequently heard a muffled explosion and observed smoke on the skyline. The accident occurred at approximately 14:30 hours NZDT at an elevation of 720 feet.
Findings
- The lime being spread had been affected by moisture, causing it to become damp.
- The crew had previously experienced issues with fertilizer sticking to the hopper door, requiring cleaning of the area.
- The pilot attempted to use high power to dislodge material from the hopper during the flight.