A body believed to be that of a missing pilot has been located after a helicopter crashed in dense bushland near the Queensland border.
Police began searching for the aircraft on Friday night after receiving a report of an overdue helicopter that had departed the Gold Coast about 9am on Friday 13 March bound for Mudgee, but failed to arrive as scheduled.
Officers attached to New England Police District were alerted to the missing aircraft shortly after 8pm.
Initial inquiries suggested the helicopter may have been seen flying over Cataract National Park at Boorook, about 55 kilometres north-east of Tenterfield, about 5.30pm the same day.
A search operation commenced that evening but was suspended due to poor visibility and weather conditions.
Just before 2pm on Saturday, officers from Richmond Police District and specialist resources located the wreckage of the helicopter in dense bushland north of of Drake Village.
Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have confirmed the aircraft involved was a Robinson R44 helicopter.
About 1pm on Sunday, police located a body, believed to be that of the 77-year-old pilot, at the crash site. The man has not yet been formally identified.
A recovery operation is underway with assistance from PolAir and Police Rescue due to the remote location of the wreckage.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is leading the investigation into the crash, with safety investigators travelling from Brisbane and Canberra to examine the site.
“Over coming days, they will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including site survey, wreckage examination, and retrieval of relevant components for further examination and analysis at the ATSB’s Canberra technical facilities,” an ATSB spokesperson said.
“As well as onsite activities, investigators will also interview involved parties and any witnesses, obtain pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and collect any available recorded flight tracking data as well as weather information.”
Police will continue working with investigators as the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash continues.
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