Heli pilot’s flying practices ‘not safe’
Helicopter pilot Murray Sarginson was operating below accepted safety standards before the crash that killed his business partner, a health and safety specialist says.
The Southland pilot is on trial in the Queenstown District Court on five charges related to the April 30, 2016 crash that lead to the death of the passenger, new father Liam Edwards, 32.
The Civil Aviation Authority claims Sarginson flew his
overloaded Robinson R22 in poor visibility when he crashed near the Lindis Pass. The pair were flying from Athol, in Southland, to Mt Algidus Station in Canterbury.
Sarginson suffered chest and head injuries. Edwards was found dead at the scene.
Shortly before the crash, Edwards become a partner in Sarginson’s agricultural contracting business, Ag Works South.
On Thursday, health and safety specialist Richard Gibson told the court he believed Sarginson failed to meet the standard of care expected in the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Evidence from other experts indicated Sarginson failed to do weight and balance checks on his helicopter, which led to him flying outside of its operating limits, Gibson said.
He did not follow recommended practices in terms of understanding weather patterns, and did not maintain adequate visibility for safe flying when weather conditions changed, Gibson said.
He also noted that he had not seen evidence of the company’s emergency procedures or first aid
procedures. He was concerned Sarginson and Edwards, who died after the crash, did not call emergency services first – but called Sarginson’s nephew in Cromwell. Appearing for the defence, Colin Withnall QC said both men were probably in shock. Nobody was able to render first aid and he questioned whether a pilot would know if the emergency locator beacon had gone off or not. Gibson was also questioned as to whether the flight was considered a
private flight or transport for work. Sarginson had said it was a private flight.
Gibson said the men were going
to a work site seven or eight hours drive away and the business owner had to get equipment and staff there.
Therefore, he considered it a commercial flight for work.
‘‘There’s been no consideration around duty of care for workers to take them to a work site. They haven’t identified the risk. They don’t believe there is a risk,’’ he said.
Withnall said the men were going to go hunting for a day on Mt Algidus Station before beginning work.
Earlier, Gibson said flying in R22 helicopters was ‘‘an extremely high risk activity’’. At the time of this
crash there had been 19 fatalities in R22 crashes over 16 years.
Gibson said the company’s Health and Safety Manual and Hazard Register did not demonstrate good health and safety knowledge.
Sarginson is charged with reckless conduct and failing to comply with his duty, and exposing individuals to risk of death or serious injury or serious illness.
He is charged under the Civil Aviation Act with operating in a manner that can expose a passenger to unnecessary risk. The trial, before Judge Bernadette Farnan, has run for eight days and is expected to resume next week.
‘‘There’s been no consideration around duty of care for workers to take them to a work site.’’ Richard Gibson, health and safety specialist