The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Investigation launched after helicopter pilot dies in Otago crash

Devon Bolger
By Devon Bolger
Digital producer, Christchurch, NZ Herald·NZ Herald·
16 Sep, 2021 02:39 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Police were told about 6.30am that a helicopter was overdue. It was believed to be flying from Milton to Alexandra. Photo / Supplied

Police were told about 6.30am that a helicopter was overdue. It was believed to be flying from Milton to Alexandra. Photo / Supplied

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has launched an inquiry into a fatal helicopter crash in Otago this morning.

A spokesperson said it was a Eurocopter "Squirrel" AS350 helicopter.

Harald Hendel, the Chief Investigator of Accidents, said the circumstances reported were that the chopper impacted terrain in the Lammerlaw Range, above the Waipori River, about 10km North of Lawrence about 6.20am.

One person died in the crash, the pilot who was the only person onboard.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

TAIC is appealing for any witnesses of the crash, he said.

"We are keen to hear from people who saw the accident or who saw or heard the helicopter on this early morning flight between Milton and the Lammerlaw Range – particularly if you have photographed or captured the flight on video."

The commission has appointed an investigation team of three, who anticipate getting to the accident site tomorrow morning.

"The Investigation team's immediate evidence collection work is broad to support all avenues of inquiry. The initial focus is on gathering evidence that could disappear or change, such as the effect of weather on the wreckage."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

To preserve the evidence, the commission has issued a protection order, prohibiting unauthorised access within a 200-metre radius of the main wreckage and unauthorised handling of any other wreckage or evidence relating to the accident.

"Over the coming days and weeks, TAIC's investigators will be recording the accident scene, recovering any remaining wreckage, securing electronic records – including photos, videos, and location data – and interviewing witnesses.

"We're interested in what people have to say, of course, particularly the helicopter's operator, and relevant professional and personal backgrounds of operational staff, what they knew, thought, experienced, and did."

TAIC opens an inquiry when it believes the circumstances of an accident or incident have, or are likely to have, significant implications for transport safety, or when the inquiry may allow findings or recommendations to improve safety.

The Civil Aviation Authority said it is working with police in Otago after the crash.

"Since being notified of the accident, our Investigation and response team has been in close contact with Police, who will be attending the scene today.

"Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this difficult time," the spokesperson said.

The chopper was believed to be flying from Milton to Alexandra and was reported overdue to Maritime NZ at 5.30am.

The Milton-based aircraft is believed to have flown up State Highway 8, towards Lawrence, over Glendhu Forest, before it crashed.

Another helicopter was sent to the scene at 7.30am.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

'This is the most useful day I've spent in years': Positive reception for good 'yarn' event

The Country

The Country: TB on Jeremy Clarkson's farm

OpinionJacqueline Rowarth

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: Is bureaucracy slowing innovation in NZ farming?


Sponsored

Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

'This is the most useful day I've spent in years': Positive reception for good 'yarn' event
The Country

'This is the most useful day I've spent in years': Positive reception for good 'yarn' event

A land-use workshop at Ngātapa provides 'real' and 'relevant' conversations.

05 Aug 03:32 AM
The Country: TB on Jeremy Clarkson's farm
The Country

The Country: TB on Jeremy Clarkson's farm

05 Aug 01:41 AM
Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: Is bureaucracy slowing innovation in NZ farming?
Jacqueline Rowarth
OpinionJacqueline Rowarth

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: Is bureaucracy slowing innovation in NZ farming?

05 Aug 01:39 AM


Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’
Sponsored

Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’

04 Aug 11:37 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP