Helicopter crashes near Wanaka, hurt pilot walks away from the wreckage
Sunday, 30 October 2016
A helicopter crashed after hitting a pole when the pilot opened a door to find the ground because his window had fogged up.
Pilot Jerry Rowley remains in hospital but sustained only minor injuries after the crash during a frost fighting mission at Swallows Crossing Vineyard, near Tarras in Central Otago
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the cause was pilot error after speaking with Rowley.
Communications manager Mike Richards said authority investigators had reviewed information and photographs taken by police at the vineyard crash scene.
'[The pilot] was flying over some large pine trees en route to the vineyard. He lost sight of the ground and there was moisture on the cabin window which restricted visibility, requiring him to open the door to try and locate the ground. While doing this he hit a vineyard pole. The aircraft was a Guimbal Cabri. There was no one else in the aircraft,' Richards said in a statement.
'We are satisfied that the cause of accident can be attributed to pilot error. Although any aviation accident is bad news, in this case the pilot is very lucky to have survived,' he said.
Rowley was 'a bit sore and bruised' but OK, according to an industry insider who did not wish to be named.
He walked away from the accident, with assistance, and was being treated for moderate injuries at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.
Rowley's wife did not want to comment.
Temperatures in parts of Central Otago dropped to zero degrees Celsius overnight. The helicopter was on a frost fighting mission.
Swallows Crossing Vineyard owner Julie Asher said she was relieved the pilot was not seriously injured. She declined to comment further.
Southern Police District Command acting senior sergeant Jared Kirk said as the investigation was a Civil Aviation Authority matter, the police would take no further action.
Central Otago Wine Growers Association president James Dicey could not be contacted for more information about the frost conditions but other grape growers confirmed Sunday morning was very busy for Central Otago frost fighters.
Growers began receiving automated weather reports from around 1.30am.