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1 Dead, 6 Injured after Heli-Ski Helicopter Crashed in Wanaka

HelicopterA heli-ski helicopter crashed on Mount Alta near Wanaka, New Zealand, at around 12:20 p.m. on August 16.

The accident happened when the helicopter run by Harris Mountain Heli-Ski was carrying 7 people, including a pilot, a ski guide and 5 skiers. All of them were New Zealanders.

One of the heli-skiers died while all others aboard suffered injuries of varied degrees. Two of the injured with minor injuries were taken to Wanaka Medical Centre. Four with comparatively serious injuries were transported to Dunedin Hospital.

Skyline Enterprises Chairman Mark Quickfall said, “I spoke to one of our senior pilots who was first on the scene. As he said to me, it’s a perfect day for flying and heli-skiing. Certainly not windy. So [we] can’t put any light on it at this stage.” He also said there were six other helicopters out heli-skiing on the same day.

The Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission are investigating the cause of the crash.

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New Zealand Pilots Lost in South Island Chopper Crash

What: Wanaka Helicopters Robinson R22 on a training flight from Wanaka to Haast and back
Where: Arawhata Saddle, Wanaka South Island, New Zealand
When: April 27 2011
Who: Pilot instructor and student
Why: The training flight did not return to Wanaka as scheduled at 1:00; it’s last known position was near Bonar Glacier.

The beacon, one of two types aboard, was detected and the helicopter found at 9:00 am Thursday *local time.

Both pilot and student were fatalities, and the wreckage was found near the Olivine Wilderness Area in a stream at the head of the Arawhata River by search teams investigating an area near Mt Aspiring. The search was focused on Bow Peak in the “Waipara Saddle.”