CASA lifts grounding of helicopters

Australia's air safety authority has followed New Zealand in ending the grounding of a type of helicopter involved in two serious accidents.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded 485 Robinson 44 helicopters fitted with the Dash 7 main rotor blades on Saturday after a serious incident in New Zealand, where a blade cracked, followed by a more recent fatal accident also in New Zealand.

There had been concerns faults in the blades may have caused the accident.

But investigators have since found the damage was likely caused on impact.

CASA has ordered R44 pilots visually inspect the main rotor blades before every flight.

Earlier on Tuesday the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority also lifted the ban on about 80 similar aircraft.