On Christmas Eve 2009, the Civil Aviation Authority grounded the Heli Ag Company’s fleet of helicopters, stopping the booming crop spraying company dead in its tracks.
The alleged crime, tampering with the clock that records the hours flown.
Now almost two years later, despite the court case being over and the CAA withdrawing the serious charges against company owner John Sarginson, they have used their powers under the Civil Aviation Act to keep his flight of choppers grounded.
60 Minutes reporter Melanie Reid speaks to the people involved and investigates the reason behind the decision that has destroyed this business and left its owners financially crippled and facing multi-million dollar losses.