RotorTom
Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 847
- Location
- Colorado
- Aircraft
- Enstrom 480B, CTLS, Ercoupe
- Total Flight Time
- 5000+
FROM: www.stuff.co,nz
"An operation is under way to recover the bodies of two men killed in a helicopter crash near Mt Aspiring. Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell, of Wanaka, said a team was on its way to the crash site, which was in difficult country.
"The chopper went down in a stream at the head of the Arawhata River yesterday, west of the Main Divide, Grindell said. Police were sending a team in to recover the bodies of a pilot and trainee and working to inform next of kin, he said. A coroner had been informed.
"The Rescue Coordination Centre launched a search for the Robinson 22 at 3pm yesterday, when the chopper failed to return on schedule. RCCNZ spokesman Nick Churchouse said three search teams were airlifted into the back country at first light today and one of the teams found wreckage at the head of the Arawhata River, near the Olivine Wilderness Area, about 9am.
The last known position of the helicopter, which was on a training flight from Wanaka to Haast and back, was near Bonar Glacier.
"The small Robinson helicopter is popular in New Zealand but has a bad track record with 190 crashes here since 1985, 23 of which resulted in fatalities."
"An operation is under way to recover the bodies of two men killed in a helicopter crash near Mt Aspiring. Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell, of Wanaka, said a team was on its way to the crash site, which was in difficult country.
"The chopper went down in a stream at the head of the Arawhata River yesterday, west of the Main Divide, Grindell said. Police were sending a team in to recover the bodies of a pilot and trainee and working to inform next of kin, he said. A coroner had been informed.
"The Rescue Coordination Centre launched a search for the Robinson 22 at 3pm yesterday, when the chopper failed to return on schedule. RCCNZ spokesman Nick Churchouse said three search teams were airlifted into the back country at first light today and one of the teams found wreckage at the head of the Arawhata River, near the Olivine Wilderness Area, about 9am.
The last known position of the helicopter, which was on a training flight from Wanaka to Haast and back, was near Bonar Glacier.
"The small Robinson helicopter is popular in New Zealand but has a bad track record with 190 crashes here since 1985, 23 of which resulted in fatalities."
