High Profile Investigations by Prosolve Ltd.
A selection of high profile, media covered cases investigated by Andrew McGregor of Prosolve Ltd.
TRAILER ROLL OVER CRASH
While returning from a job assignment, a contractor with a trailer that contained a heavy industrial generator drove his vehicle and trailer around a sharp bend in the road. The trailer started swaying violently before the corner and rolled after entering the bend. It crossed the centre line colliding with an oncoming car, killing one occupant and injuring the other. The Police charged the driver with careless driving.
In court Andrew McGregor showed that this accident was caused by a combination of factors that the defendant had little control over. The trailer and roll-over accident was instead due to the gusty wind conditions and fuel tank sloshing resonating with the natural frequency of the trailer suspension, resulting in a phenomenon called ‘roll resonance’. The defendant was acquitted.”
Stuff.co.nz news article: Driver in fatal Clarence crash not guilty of careless driving
CRASH OF A WARBIRDS DEVON
On the 3rd of February 2006, A warbirds Devon crashed on landing at Ohakea aerodrome. Fortunately no one was injured…
Pilot was charged by NZ CAA for causing the crash but Andrew Mcgregor demonstrated to the Jury that it was instead caused by mechanical failure. For an article by pacific wings on this case. Read article.
IN FLIGHT BREAKUP OF A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER
We were engaged by the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji to investigate the crash of a helicopter that occurred on the day of the military coup in December 2006. As the story below explains the findings from the investigation were internationally significant.
NTSB Recommendations – a Arising out of the Prosolve investigation.
Reference by the United States FAA to the significance of the Fijian R44 investigation. (Refer slide 12)
FOX GLACIER CRASH INVESTIGATION BUNGLE
According to the official finding published by New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission, the 2010 Fox Glacier air crash that killed nine people was caused by improper loading of the skydive plane. At least that was the official finding published by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. But as this story asks, could that be wrong? And why was some of the wreckage buried within days of the disaster?
WAIHEKE FERRY FIRE
Fire forces Waiheke ferry evacuation on 22 August 2004, the passenger ferry Superflyte was proceeding from Waiheke island to Auckland when a fire was discovered in the port engine room. All passengers were evacuated to other vessels that responded to the call.
COMMUTER TRAIN FIRE
Passengers force doors of burning city train On 23 February 2005, an engine of a Toll Rail passenger train caught fire resulting in the passenger compartments being evacuated. Andrew McGregor determined the cause of the fire and provided engineering advice to the NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC).
IN FLIGHT BREAK UP OF IROQUOIS ZK-HJH
Iroquois helicopter broke up near Taumarunui On 4 June 2001, an Iroquois helicopter broke up near Taumarunui, in the central North Island of New Zealand.The NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released its findings in February 2002.
PLANE CRASHES: THREE DIE IN SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT
The Fijian government appointed Andrew McGregor as Investigator in Charge (IIC) under the international ICAO convention. The Fijian government requires the report and it’s findings to remain confidential.
PAPER MACHINE FIRE
