ZK-DLS

On September 28, 1999 at 05:50 PM, ZK-DLS experienced a crash involving Fletcher FU-24, operated by Private New Zealand, with the event recorded near Raetihi Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council).

The flight was categorized as spraying (agricultural) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The aircraft was taking off on the final sowing sortie, after which the pilot was to return to home base. The pilot reported that, on the takeoff roll, the engine appeared to overspeed and that the aircraft failed to get airborne. It subsequently sank into a shallow gully off the end of the strip. After the accident, one propeller blade was found to be free to rotate about its feathering axis. Metallurgical analysis indicated that the pitch change knob on the subject blade failed as the result of ductile overload. A second pitch change knob was also bent and cracked but had not separated from the blade. The overload sustained by the pitch change knobs was determined to have occurred at impact, not in flight. No reason was established for the failure to become airborne.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-DLS, MSN 182, year of manufacture 1973.