Safety inspectors are being sent to the remote site of a chopper crash which seriously injured a young pilot on the West Coast at the weekend.
The crash happened on Saturday about 10.30am, leaving the 24-year-old pilot trapped in the cockpit near the Poerua Glacier in Westland National Park He was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
Two hunters the helicopter picked up from the glacier had minor injuries.
Two safety inspectors were being sent to look at the wreckage today, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman Mike Eng said.
"The investigators will make a preliminary assessment of the wreckage and will speak to witnesses, including the hunters who were on board and the pilot, once he has recovered from his injuries.
"The CAA would like to thank police and the RCCNZ (Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand) who have provided preliminary information on the accident.
The pilot left from Franz Joseph flying an Alpine Adventurers Hughes 369.
Two men from a hunting group had already been flown out when an unknown "mishap" occurred during the second trip's take off, a spokesperson for the helicopter company said.
A RCCNZ spokeswoman said the pilot and hunters were rescued about 12pm on Saturday.
The centre responded to two distress beacon activations and notification from the helicopter firm its chopper was overdue and should have returned by 9.30am, the spokeswoman said.
"As the RCCNZ was arranging for the Garden City Rescue helicopter from Greymouth to fly to the site it received information from the company about the problem at take-off and that three men were injured," she said.
"Another company helicopter had been flown to the glacier to check the situation and was able to pass on information about what had happened on the ground."
