Helicopter crash pilot Rick Lucas was already facing charges of careless flying

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Helicopter pilot Rick Lucas survived a chopper crash into water at Porirua

The helicopter pilot who crashed into Pauatahanui Inlet is facing charges of careless flying related to earlier incidents in the region.

Rick Lucas, who escaped unharmed after his twin-engine BK117 helicopter crashed into the water near Porirua, north of Wellington, about 11.30am on Tuesday, is due in Wellington District Court later this month, charged with operating an aircraft in a careless manner over Pukerua Bay and Wellington.

Lucas, whose Helipro company was put into receivership in 2014, owing an estimated $25-$30 million, was flying on Tuesday for Heliforce, carrying power poles.

Pilot Rick Lucas after his lucky escape from a helicopter crash in the Pauatahanui Inlet.

He said after the crash that he immediately knew he was in trouble. 'I thought 'this was it' … I feel a bit lucky.

Footage of the rescue of helicopter pilot Rick Lucas after his chopper crash.

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Rick Lucas on top of the helicopter that crashed into the Pauatahanui Inlet.

Drone footage of the Porirua helicopter crash

'I felt quite an intense vibration that got worse and worse, and the machine started to rotate so I just carried out what I considered to be the normal emergency procedures – and got away with it.'

He closed the throttles and lowered the lever to try to stop the rotation.

'But it was still a significant impact and I ended up under the water. I couldn't get the seatbelt off.

'[I] couldn't tell up from down until I saw some light and I was able to head towards the light and emerge in the cockpit, so I was pretty happy.'

Lucas said he was able to keep his cool.

'I didn't panic. I almost went into some sort of state that allows you to think logically and consciously. I looked for the seatbelt, found it and, yeah, thought my leg was trapped, which was my biggest concern.'

He said he had been flying for 35 years and said this was only the second tail rotor failure in that time.

His only injury was a cut to his mouth. The blow to his helmet had also been quite hard, but he considered himself very lucky.

A helicopter lies on its side in the Pauatahanui Inlet, in Porirua.

'I'm thankful there was nobody else involved, and thankful that when it all goes bad you don't forget your basics and your training … I think that's what saved me.'

He was pleased that two kayakers had paddled out to check on him.

Boats gather to assist with the helicopter crash.

'Andy and Rick, great guys, thanks very much,' he said. 'I think they were expecting the worst, they were pretty happy to see me sitting on top of the helicopter.'

'IT JUST STARTED SPIRALLING TOWARDS THE WATER'

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter at the scene of the crash.

Porirua City Council worker Paul Hiha was leaf-blowing at a nearby walkway when he saw the incident unfold.

'I thought he dropped the pole there, and was then just circling it, until I realised he was getting faster … what was going through my mind? Oh my God. It just spiralled down until it hit the water.'

Emergency services at the scene of a helicopter crash in Pauahatanui Inlet.

Hiha estimated he was only about 200 metres away from the crash site.

'I was surprised that I saw a guy come up out of the helicopter, the speed that he hit the water in. Amazing. I'll never, ever forget that sight.'

'I BURST INTO TEARS WHEN I SAW THE PILOT'

Crash witness Reuben Kunst said the helicopter was carrying telephone poles when the cable snapped and hit the tail rotor, spinning the chopper around.

The helicopter took off from Motukaraka Point in Pauatahanui minutes before the crash, another witness said.

Georgina Russell, who lives in the Porirua suburb of Whitby, on a hill overlooking the inlet, described hearing the helicopter taking off and making an 'odd' sound.

She raced to her window to see it submerged in the water.

She grabbed her binoculars and was amazed to see a man was sitting on top of the aircraft.

Soon after that, she watched as a canoeist paddled up to him and appeared to be chatting to the man while they awaited emergency services.

'He was just sitting casually, obviously very shocked, and a canoeist rode up to him and was just chatting to him.'

Matt Newton, manager of Precision Helicopters, the parent company that oversees work carried out by other helicopter companies, said he saw the chopper go down.

'I just burst into tears when I saw the pilot climb up out of it.

'I don't know what happened, everything was serviceable on the machine.'

The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Tuesday that Lucas had been charged in relation to previous incidents, but would not specify the charges.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) confirmed it was investigating Tuesday's crash, and was assessing the options for salvage on Tuesday evening.

'We have to factor in tides, and mud flats, so it's not easy procedure,' air investigations manager Peter Williams said.

'We are running out of day time so it may not be achieved until tomorrow.'

TAIC issued a protection order on Tuesday evening which restricts any person from coming within 200 metre of the helicopter or its parts. Anyone who failed to comply with the order is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000.