Pilot survives chopper crash

A helicopter has gone down in Taranaki. Photo / Thinkstock

A helicopter pilot has made a "miraculous'' escape from a crash landing on a Mokau property in Taranaki this afternoon.

Marty Fry walked away from the wreckage unscathed, after the engine of his helicopter stopped during crop dusting about 1.30pm.

The Precision Helicopters pilot is "lucky to be alive'', his boss Matt Newton said.

"He had some surging problems with [the helicopter's engine] and then it lost power. We're not 100 per cent sure what's caused it yet,'' Mr Newton said.

"He called me from the scene to say what had happened. It's miraculous.

"He was very happy to be alive.''

Mr Newton said Mr Fry's crash landing had avoided a more serious fate in the steep terrain of the property.

Mr Newton, who is on his way to the crash scene, said it would take at least a week to determine what caused the engine failure.