Kimberley chopper crash: Helicopter pilot killed at remote pastoral station
A 34-year-old pilot has been killed in a helicopter crash at a remote pastoral station in the Kimberley.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the R22 was on a ferry flight between Yeeda Station and Springvale Station, north of Halls Creek, on Monday afternoon.
Police said when the pilot failed to return at 6pm (AWST) yesterday, three other helicopters began searching but could not find the aircraft.
It was located about 7:30am today, about 30 nautical miles from Springvale Station.
Police said the helicopter had crashed and caught fire, killing the pilot.
The ATSB said two investigators from Perth would travel to the site and spend two days recovering items for examination, including the helicopter's maintenance documentation and records.
Local police were also on their way to the scene.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Springvale Station is about 48 kilometres north of Halls Creek and 84 kilometres south west of Warmun in the Kimberley region.
It is the second fatal helicopter incident at Springvale Station in five years.
On May 5, 2009, two Robinson Helicopter Company R22s collided in midair about 15 kilometres south-east of the station, claiming the lives of Australian Troy Wareham, 37, and New Zealander Matthew Funnell, 39.
Both had taken off from the station just prior to sunrise that morning to carry out some mustering.
The ATSB found the converging flight paths of the helicopters, pilot fatigue and glare from the rising sun were all contributing factors.