Mid-flight fire downs chopper

A pilot has escaped injury after his helicopter caught fire and crashed west of Lake Taupo.

Maritime New Zealand spokesman Vince Cholewa said the pilot was found about 2pm following an aerial search.

The helicopter left Taumarunui about 10.30am on a straight-line flight to Oruanui. The alarm was raised after it failed to arrive by 11.30am.

Cholewa said it appeared the helicopter caught fire while flying above the Pureora Forest Park, about 18 kilometres west of Lake Taupo.

‘‘The pilot, who was the only person on board, was able to auto-rotate over the trees ... and crashlanded in a clearing,’’ Cholewa said.

‘‘He escaped unhurt and the rescue helicopter literally found him next to the burnt out crashed helicopter.’’

Cholewa declined to name the pilot but said the helicopter, a Bell 204, was owned and operated by Summit Logging. It was on the way for maintenance when the fire broke out.

Emergency services as well as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was alerted to the search.

The pilot was taken to Taumarunui by a rescue helicopter.

Cholewa said the CAA are investigating the cause of the crash.