Pilot involved in Canterbury helicopter crash suffered spinal injuries
Tuesday, 22 June 2021
A pilot involved in a helicopter crash at a wedding in Canterbury suffered spinal injuries with her rehab expected to take 'many weeks”, her company says.
Wedding photographer Rachel Jordan, newlyweds Mahdi Zougub and Fay El Hanafy, and a pilot were seriously injured in the crash at Terrace Downs Golf Resort on June 12.
The owner of the helicopter, Wyndon Aviation, earlier said the inquiry was in its early stages, but it had been established the engine suffered a “total power loss shortly after take off”.
In a statement to Stuff, the company said the pilot had suffered injuries to her spine and had recently been moved to Christchurch's Burwood Hospital spinal unit to commence the rehabilitation process.
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“Her rehabilitation is expected to take many weeks,” the company said.
“On a positive note, she has been quite overwhelmed by the messages of support she had received from friends, fellow pilots, and aviation industry colleagues”.
The investigation into the crash continues, however it is still unclear why the engine failed.
The engine will be run on a test bed later this week, and the results of that test will be analysed by independent engineering investigators.
“There are certain lines of investigation being pursued, however it would be premature to reveal these lines at the moment, but we have an obligation to the victims of the accident, the wider aviation community and the public to find the cause”.
The injury tally from the crash was extensive. Zougub suffered a broken back, while El Hanafy had a broken back, foot, and legs.
Aside from spinal injuries, the pilot also suffered broken bones and cuts.
Jordan has spinal fractures, five fractured ribs, lung laceration, fractured sternum, a broken arm and fractured feet and ankles.
An email from the CAA to Robinson 44 II helicopter operators, seen by Stuff, said the initial investigation had found a “probable engine total power loss occurred” while the engine was operating at high power during climb-out.
The CAA had also been made aware of an “anecdotal occurrence” in New Zealand where another Robinson R44 II helicopter engine suddenly lost power while on approach to land.
“The maintenance investigation failed to find the apparent cause of the engine power loss,” it said.
The CAA requested operators of helicopters fitted with the Lycoming IO-540 engine, which may have experienced similar engine power loss issues, to get in contact.
A CAA spokesman said it was informed of the earlier incident during the course of its investigation into last week’s crash.
“This incident wasn’t classed as an accident because the aircraft was able to land safely at the time. A subsequent maintenance investigation was unable to identify the cause of the engine power loss in that instance,” he said.
“Our team is working through this investigation thoroughly and methodically, and are working to gather as much information as they can about factors which may have contributed to the sudden power loss.”
Jordan’s husband, Eric Jordan, said it was “quite encouraging” that the CAA appeared to be taking similar issues with Robinson R44 helicopters into “serious consideration”.
He hoped the investigation would discover why the engine suddenly lost power.
“Hopefully their investigation will also take other concerning design flaws that have been highlighted in the past into account so that we have a comprehensive view of the dangers posed by the Robinson R44.”