John Eacott
21st May 2012, 09:04
Chopper crash in Canterbury: search halted for today (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6959893/Chopper-crash-in-Canterbury-search-halted-for-today)
The search for helicopter that crashed near Lake Sumner in North Canterbury will resume at first light tomorrow.
The Westpac rescue helicopter has been searching the remote area for signs of the helicopter, which was believed to have crashed into the lake this afternoon.
Police said they were contacted just before 3pm by the Department of Conservation which reported a Hughes 500 chopper may have crashed near Breaksea Bay on Lake Sumner.
The helicopter is believed to be one of two owned by a Rangiora helicopter operator, and both had been spraying weeds in the vicinity of the lake.
One helicopter was reported overdue, and the second helicopter returned to the area to search for the missing machine.
It was reported that debris had been sighted in the lake, around 150 metres offshore from Breaksea Bay.
The pilot was believed to be the only occupant of the overdue helicopter.
Police were not releasing any details of the missing pilot at this stage.
Police search and rescue staff were this afternoon en route to the location, which is in a remote bush area accessible only by four-wheel drive.
Officers will remain at the scene overnight, and a full ground and water search will commence at first light tomorrow.
DoC fire officer Brian Taylor told The Press he was working with the helicopter at the time of the crash.
"We were just doing some weed spraying."
Taylor said it was a remote area and he assumed rescue crew would fly in to reach the scene.
A DoC spokeswoman said the helicopter was spraying broom and gorse on conservation land around the north branch of the Hurunui River.
The search for helicopter that crashed near Lake Sumner in North Canterbury will resume at first light tomorrow.
The Westpac rescue helicopter has been searching the remote area for signs of the helicopter, which was believed to have crashed into the lake this afternoon.
Police said they were contacted just before 3pm by the Department of Conservation which reported a Hughes 500 chopper may have crashed near Breaksea Bay on Lake Sumner.
The helicopter is believed to be one of two owned by a Rangiora helicopter operator, and both had been spraying weeds in the vicinity of the lake.
One helicopter was reported overdue, and the second helicopter returned to the area to search for the missing machine.
It was reported that debris had been sighted in the lake, around 150 metres offshore from Breaksea Bay.
The pilot was believed to be the only occupant of the overdue helicopter.
Police were not releasing any details of the missing pilot at this stage.
Police search and rescue staff were this afternoon en route to the location, which is in a remote bush area accessible only by four-wheel drive.
Officers will remain at the scene overnight, and a full ground and water search will commence at first light tomorrow.
DoC fire officer Brian Taylor told The Press he was working with the helicopter at the time of the crash.
"We were just doing some weed spraying."
Taylor said it was a remote area and he assumed rescue crew would fly in to reach the scene.
A DoC spokeswoman said the helicopter was spraying broom and gorse on conservation land around the north branch of the Hurunui River.