’Copter wrecked, pilot scratched
From BARRY SIMPSON. Nelson reporter
A Blenheim helicopter pilot bit his tongue and scratched his hand as he scrambled from the wreckage of his machine on the hills above Richmond yesterday and those were the only injuries he suffered. The accident happened about 9.45 a.m., when Mr S. Sands, a pilot for Aerial Works (Marlborough), Ltd, was spraying thistle. He
made a turn into the sun. a rotor blade clipped the branch of a tree — the only one in the area — and the machine crashed on to its back. Within seconds it was a wreck. Residents in the area saw the incident and reported the crash. Within 10 minutes a machine of Helicopters N.Z.. Ltd. was at the scene, but it was too late. Mr Sands ha<j already walked away and been picked up bv a utility vehicle. The helicopter, a Bell 47 G 5, is a write-off. The firm’s managing director (Mr M. S. Dunn), said its replacement value was
about $50,000, He intended to replace it soon. In the meantime the firm would continue to use a similar helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. The helicopter was insured. The battered remains of the helicopter were flown from the crash site in the afternoon by a Lama helicopter (pictured), to Nelson Airport. The tree struck bv the machine — it lost only one branch — has some historical significance It is believed to be the “jubilee tree" planted to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign
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Press, 27 July 1976, Page 1
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249’Copter wrecked, pilot scratched Press, 27 July 1976, Page 1
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