The Civil Aviation Authority did not open a formal accident
investigation following the disappearance of a Hughes 500
helicopter carrying two passengers in Fiordland almost nine
years ago - and has no plans to investigate now.
CAA spokesman Mike Richards said yesterday the authority had
reviewed its records following the discovery of a helicopter
wreckage near Humboldt Creek, thought to be that flown by
Waikato farmer Campbell Montgomerie (27) and English tourist
Hannah Timmings (28), which went missing in January 2004.
The couple were declared dead at an inquest in Te Anau in
August 2004, but remains found at the crash site last week
needed to be formally identified through a forensic process
which could take several weeks.
Mr Richards said the CAA did not investigate originally
because "the helicopter departed into poor weather in
mountainous terrain" and because it could not be found.
"If new evidence does come to light that would give us a key
safety learning for the aviation sector, then we would
reconsider," Mr Richards said.
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