The Transport Accident Investigation Commission's report on Haast pilot Morgan Saxton's fatal helicopter accident on Lake Wanaka in 2008 is unlikely to be completed before May.
The commission had earlier hoped to have completed its report by the end of this month, but has extended the timeframe by three months because of investigation workloads and private salvage attempts to find the engine of Mr Saxton's Robinson 22 aircraft.
Mr Saxton was flying his Robinson R22 ZK-HXR on a routine flight between Haast and Wanaka when it crashed into the lake on November 1, 2008.
TAIC chief investigator Tim Burfoot said when contacted yesterday the lead investigator on the Saxton case, Peter Williams, had been asked to assist with the Princess Ashika ferry capsize in Tonga last year.
He was also working on other aviation files.
"We were also waiting while the families had another attempt to find the engine.
"We thought we would hold off because it would have been useful to have a look at that," Mr Burfoot said.
The retrieval efforts were unsuccessful and the engine remains on the bottom of Lake Wanaka close to the eastern shore opposite Mou Waho Island.
Mr Burfoot said an embargoed preliminary report was being prepared and should be sent to the Saxton family and interested parties by March or early April.
It usually took two months from the release of a preliminary report to complete a final report.
Only the final report will be released to the public, Mr Burfoot said.
The TAIC investigates potentially significant aviation, rail and marine accidents to identify the cause and make safety recommendations.
It does not determine liability.
The commission chooses which accidents to investigate and focuses its resources on those it thinks has the best potential for improving safety.
It opens about 50 investigations a year, publishing most reports in between four and nine months.
Complex investigations take longer.
The commission is also working on another four reports into Queenstown Lakes aviation or maritime accidents.
They are. -Commercial jet-boat capsize, Dart River, Queenstown (February 20, 2009), causing minor injuries to three people.
Report unlikely to be completed before March 2010.
Jet-boat and jet ski (Seadoo GTX) collision, Queenstown (January 5, 2009), killing two men and injuring two other people.
Report unlikely to be completed before August 2010.
Cessna 207 aircraft, ZK-DEW, out-of-control taxi, Queenstown (September 5, 2009), no injuries.
Preliminary report completed and out for comment.
Final report likely by the end of April 2010.
Kawarau Jet No 6, capsize, Kawarau-Shotover Rivers confluence (September 25, 2008), killing one female and injuring eight other people.
Preliminary report completed and out for comment.
Final report likely by the end of March 2010.
