Pilot survives remote helicopter crash

A pilot who was transporting beehives when he survived a helicopter crash in the remote Ruapehu district yesterday was able to talk when he was found by another chopper sent to rescue him.

The pilot, the only person on the crashed chopper, was taken to hospital in a serious condition, police said.

The crashed pilot was located by the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter near Makakahi North West, a remote region. Raetihi is the closest town. A St John paramedic on the rescue helicopter was lowered down to the injured pilot using a rescue hoist.

Rescue pilot Lance Burns said he did not get a good look at the downed aircraft, but the helicopter was as ‘‘broken up as you’d expect’’ and appeared to have rolled, then come to rest about 100 metres up a steep, gorse-covered hillside.

Burns landed the helicopter while the paramedic stabilised the injured pilot, and once he was ready, they hoisted him into a stretcher aboard the rescue chopper and flew him to Whanganui Hospital.

Burns said the pilot was able to talk once inside the rescue chopper.

‘‘It was definitely a good outcome.’’

He had not noticed any bees or hives as he focused on picking up the injured pilot.

Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron said it was ‘‘amazing’’ to receive news the pilot had survived the crash, after last week’s fatal accident involving a helicopter pilot - a former SAS soldier - fighting the big Christchurch fire.

‘‘We’ve all had our hearts in our mouths since Steve Askin came down in the Port Hills,’’ Cameron said.

He said the area where the helicopter came down was ‘‘extremely remote’’ and difficult to get to by land.

Cameron said at this time of year there tended to be a lot of work moving Manuka honey bee hives by air in the region.

It is understood the Civil Aviation Authority will investigate the crash.