Steve76
4th Feb 2003, 02:14
Machine down in the Kaimanawa's.
Anyone know who's? Good to hear all got out OK.
All Blacks
4th Feb 2003, 05:46
It was a 300C based in Turangi and although a private machine was being used for commercial work.
AB
Taken from an NZ paper..........
Three people injured in a helicopter crash today, two of them seriously, were in a stable condition tonight, Rotorua Hospital said.
The helicopter crashed in the Kaimanawa Range south of Turangi in the central North Island just after 12pm. Mark Read of the SquareTrust Rescue Helicopter, based in Palmerston North, said two men and a woman were on board the helicopter.
He said the helicopter had crashed into the side of a hill but there was no obvious reason why. Mr Read said two of the trio were moderately seriously injured and the other received minor injuries.
A Rotorua Hospital spokeswoman said all three were in a stable condition. Turangi police search and rescue officer Senior Constable Cliff Jones said the pilot owned the Hughes 300 helicopter.
He understood the accident happened as the helicopter was trying to land. Mr Jones said it took some time for rescue helicopters to reach the site and the trio were airlifted to hospital by about 2pm.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said a pilot and engineer would investigate the cause of the crash. He said the investigation could take up to three months.