Balanced News: Fatal helicopter crash investigation finds visual night flying rules ambiguous

An investigation into a fatal helicopter crash in Otago, New Zealand, revealed that the rules regarding night flying are ambiguous and pilots should regularly refresh their skills. The pilot, who was experienced and qualified for restricted night flying, lost control and crashed into the ground. The report stated that the pilot likely became disorientated due to increasing cloud cover and lack of terrestrial light. It was also found that the rules and guidance around visual night flying did not require pilots to regularly train or be assessed, leading to potential risks and lack of skills in certain conditions. The commission recommended pilots regularly refresh their night flying skills and use tracking technology to locate missing aircraft more quickly.