Hunters survive helicopter crash

Press, 1 December 1978, Page 1

Hunters survive helicopter crash

Nelson reporter

Two men on a live deer recovery mission escaped with a severe shaking and bruising when their helicopter “shuddered and disintegrated” in the mountains of the Tasman Range, behind Takaka, about 6.30 a.m. yesterday. The helicopter, a new Hiller 12C which had had its first SO-hour flight check on Wednesday, dropped into the bush from about 28m, but did not burn on impact. “We found oitrselves hanging upside down in the cockpit, but all arms and legs still in place,” said Mr Keith Miles, of Wellington, who was the helicopter’s pilot. “We were just so lucky and grateful to be alive,” he said. While following a stag the helicopter suddenly shuddered violently and dropped. “It was all over in about three seconds,” Mr Miles said. “We were about 25 to 30m above the bush, which was only about six metres high. We crashed through the trees and ended upside down on the ground. Fortunately there was no fire.” Mr Miles, aged 24, single, and Mr Mark Page, aged 28. married with three children, of Takaka, extricated themselves from the wreckage and walked for about five hours down several ridges to the Anatoki Hut, which is maintained by the Forest Service. An emergency radio beacon on the helicopter, set before the crash, emitted a signal pinpointing the accident as the men walked down. The signal was heard by an Air New Zealand DCB flying between Australia and New Zealand and rescue work was begun in Wellington. A Nelson helicopter lifted the two men out about 11.15 a.m.