Miraculous flying as helicopter hits aerial

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 8

Miraculous flying as helicopter hits aerial

PA Wellington Witnesses described as “miraculous” the flying of a helicopter pilot after his machine hit an aerial in central Wellington yesterday. Workers and pedestrians dived for the ground as the helicopter vibrated wildly after hitting an aerial on the roof of Wellington Central Police Station.

The pilot, Mr Reg Ellwood, brought the damaged machine down safely on to a nearby park. Mr Mark Markholm,

of Markholm Construction, was underneath the helicopter, about to connect a. load of kauri to be lifted on to a building site, when the accident occurred. “I went to grab the chain and the next thing there was this bang,” Mr Markholm said. Pieces of broken insulator showered on to the ground as Mr Markholm threw himself down with his arms over/ his head. Other workers had run for cover behind trucks parked in Johnston Street The helicop-

ter was slewing from side to side as the pilot fought to recover it The noise was “horrendous,” Mr Markholm said. Mr Clive Button, who yesterday received . a Queen's Commendation for bravery for his part in the helicopter rescue of two policemen from Cook Strait last July, described Mr EUwood’s recovery of the helicopter yesterday morning as .“very good flying.” Mrfcllwod* £i<f the aerial had been very hard to see. The helicopter blades had gone out

i of balance from, the im- : pact causing the shak* ; ing. ■ . - A car parked in Woodward Street was dam--1 aged by broken insulai tor material which had i been hurled across t Lambton Quay. The Wellington police said i some of their portable • radio channels had been 1 affected by the broken Although Mr Ellwood said the hel|cepter.was replaced, It : was /uKeii ' from the Midland Pdrfc by truck. 7