Aviation accident investigators this week issued an urgent directive to parachute operators using Fletcher FU24 aircraft to take extra safety precautions when loading passengers, following the September 4 crash at Fox Glacier which killed nine people.
Under the safety directive, passenger numbers are restricted to six.
Transport Accident Investigation Commission chief investigator Tim Burfoot confirmed yesterday there were previously no restrictions.
"It was what they could fit in, which was typically eight [plus pilot]," he said.
Now pilots must weigh each passenger - industry requirements are that people must weigh under 100kg - and their equipment before each flight.
They must also check the passengers are positioned correctly inside the plane and ensure weight limits are not exceeded.
The overall maximum weight permitted on the Fletcher FU24 is 4800 pounds (about 2174kg).
Mr Burfoot said the weight of the Skydive New Zealand plane that crashed at the end of Fox Glacier airstrip shortly after takeoff on September 4 was not yet known.
Mr Burfoot also warned the directive did not mean the TAIC had determined weight and centre of gravity issues caused the accident.
The investigation by the TAIC, police and Civil Aviation Authority will be lengthy and the final report may take two years, but an interim report should be available within six weeks.
Mr Burfoot said there was international interest in the accident and the factual report would be released so families did not have to wait too long to find out the main issues.
Directives were always made as soon as a safety issue was identified to prevent similar things happening again, but it was too early to say what caused this crash, he said.
Five of the deceased, including Queenstown-based pilot Chaminda Senadhira, worked for the company.
Initial pathology reports have now been released to TAIC for further investigation.
Mr Burfoot declined to comment on the contents.
Much of the plane was destroyed by fire. The wreck is now at a Christchurch hangar.
Investigators have conducted "a significant number" of interviews and were in Wellington yesterday to liaise with the Civil Aviation Authority and other operators of Fletcher FU24 aircraft.
"The wreckage will need some more work ... What we are trying to establish is the serviceability of the aircraft, was its engine operating OK, was its pilot able to control it. And we will look at the type of aircraft and its suitability for parachute operations," Mr Burfoot said.
The Fox Glacier site was "fairly standard" compared with more expensive operations involving underwater or bush recoveries.
Detective Sergeant Jackie Adams, of Greymouth, said all bodies had been released to families for funerals and he was now waiting for reports from the examination of the plane.
There could not be any statements about cause at this stage, he said.
Civil Aviation Authority communications manager Bill Sommer said CAA issued the directive at the request of TAIC and as far as he was aware, just two or three skydiving companies used the Fletcher.
The plane is primarily used in New Zealand for top-dressing.
Skydive New Zealand's Fletcher was CAA-approved for skydiving and had been operating from Fox Glacier since July, following an extensive refurbishment and rebuild that included a new turbine engine.
It had 80 hours of flying, with its next service due at 100 hours.