KEY POINTS:
The wreckage of the helicopter which crashed at the top of Mt Ruapehu with five people on board, has been removed from the shore of the Crater Lake.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) have both launched investigations into the causes of
the crash on the edge of Mt Ruapehu's Crater Lake on Monday night.
Pilot Bruce Lilburn, 36, of Taupo scaled a near vertical 30 meter ice wall with a broken foot to get help for his four passengers after the helicopter went down.
Helicopter pilot Pete Masters, of Taupo, lifted the Hughes 500 wreckage from the Crater Lake area this morning.
DOC Ruapehu area manager Nicola Patrick said three alpine-experienced workers were dropped off at the crash site to secure the wreckage so it could be taken out by helicopter.
Ms Patrick said the three DOC staff who were on board during the crash were discharged from hospital on Tuesday and were recuperating at home.
Along with Mr Lilburn, colleague Adrian Petherbridge, 38, of Taupo and DOC workers George Taylor, 37, of Whakapapa, Ross Martin, 34, of Turangi and Melissa Vedder, 26, of Owhango were rescued from the crash site.
Ms Patrick said she was relieved to learn that all three DOC workers suffered only relatively minor injuries.
"Ironically, these three staff are normally on the other side of such events, either as volunteer firefighters or search and rescue team members.
"I want to acknowledge the fantastic team work and response from the rescuers. It was a first-class operation with top-quality people working from my own team, the police, the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, as well as Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, air ambulance and others. I want to thank these people for getting everyone safely off the mountain."
Ms Patrick said TAIC's report on the crash was expected to be six months away.
"The investigations are likely to determine what could be done better in the future to either reduce the risk of this happening or to help our response to events that lie beyond our control.
"DOC is fully supporting the investigations."
Conservator Paul Green said he was pleased the helicopter had been removed quickly.
"I had two concerns about the wreckage being left there for any length of time -- an increase in small aircraft scenic flights over a high altitude area that could be subject to volcanic activity and the possibility of visitors to the summit attempting to make their way down the ice cliff to view the helicopter.
The ice cliff is actively eroding and collapsing as the Crater Lake level rises and is a hazardous place to be."
- NZPA
