Anybody know what happend?
Survivor tells of chopper 'death spiral'
A passenger on a helicopter that crashed near Cairns today says it went into a "death spiral" before it hit the ground.
The helicopter, which was on a charter flight, crashed at the site of a resort and residential development at False Cape shortly before 10.40am (AEST).
The pilot and two passengers were today being treated in Cairns Base Hospital, but a fourth man walked away without injury.
One of the passengers, identified only as Steve, told The Cairns Post online he was surprised to still be alive.
"Somehow I'm alive," he said.
"There was some turbulence and we got into a death spiral on the way down.
"We hit trees and I thought that was it."
A 45-year-old man has been taken to Cairns Base Hospital suffering from back and abdominal pain, as has the 40-year-old pilot, who has two broken ankles.
Another 40-year-old passenger is suffering from general abrasions, an Emergency Services Queensland spokeswoman said.
The crash occurred in rough terrain near the controversial Reef Cove Resort development, which local environmentalists want stopped.
A spokeswoman said the flight had not been authorised by the developers.
An investigation is under way.
AAP