CASA has grounded Robinson R44 helicopters after a fatal crash in NZ in which the rotor blades are suspected to have failed in flight.
Australian R44s using rotor blade part C-016-7 (Dash 7) have been banned from flying until further notice. Helicopters based in remote areas will be allowed to make one more flight to a point where the rotors can be inspected.
Two people died last Thursday when their R44 crashed in the Lochy River valley south of Queenstown, prompting the NZ CAA to ground all R44s using Dash 7 blades.
CASA followed suit on Saturday with AD/R44/24.
Prior to the NZ crash, the CAA had issued an advisory notice recommending inspection of Dash 7 blades after an emergency landing in which cracked blades caused severe vibration.
The advice issued on 26 January 2015 has now been upgraded to grounding.