EOD Airman Killed While Marking UXO

Waiouru, New Zealand A New Zealand EOD airman was killed when an unexploded 105 mm artillery shell he was working near exploded. The accident occurred at the Waiouru Military Camp where the New Zealand military has several active training ranges. Flight Sergeant Andrew Bruce Forster, 46, and another EOD airman were reportedly placing a stake in the ground several meters away from an old 105 mm artillery shell to mark it for disposal when it exploded. The UXO was apparently identified the previous day during a sweep of the area but no stakes or marking equipment was available at the time to mark the item. Therefore, the 27 year EOD veteran airman along with a second EOD airman were going back to mark the area with the UXO with a stake so that the disposal team could blow it in place during an upcoming disposal operation.

The second airman involved in the marking exercise and subsequent explosion received minor injuries. In a press conference following the incident, New Zealand military officials described the incident as a "freak accident" that appeared to have occurred as a wooden stake was being driven into the ground near the UXO to mark it. The military called the marking process a routine procedure that was done as part of the standard operating procedure when UXO is found.

Survived by his wife and three children, Forster recently returned home after serving a dangerous tour of duty in Afghanistan where he provided EOD support o the reconstruction team in Bamiyan province.

Authorities promised a full investigation into the matter. Although information on the exact type of 105mm projectile involved in the accident was not released, an analysis of 105mm projectiles and fuzing can provide clues as to which type of projectile and fuze may have been involved. Since it is known that the UXO was discovered the previous day, it means that the standard EOD wait times for time fuzes was passed (i.e., 1 hour for VT fuzes). The fact that the round was apparently initiated when a stake was driven into the ground near the item suggests that the projectile had a very sensitive fuze. If the projectile was a high Explosive (HE) projectile, the fuze was most-likely a mechanical time fuze with a "cocked striker" design. If the projectile was a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) design, the fuze was most likely a point initiating base detonating (PIBD) fuze with a piezoelectric crystal design also known as a "PIBD-L" fuze design. Both of these fuze types are considered shock sensitive.