Pilot seriously injured in Snowy Mountains helicopter crash

A helicopter crash in the Snowy Mountains with only one person seriously injured has been described as ‘either good luck or good piloting’.

A helicopter crashed in Kosciuszko National Park. Pictures: Supplied

A pilot was seriously injured when a helicopter, with four passengers on board, was forced into an emergency landing deep in the Snowy Mountains on Friday.

The chopper — with National Parks and Wildlife Service staff and a contractor on board — crash-landed in deep bushland at Wilsons Valley in Kosciuszko National Park just before midday after experiencing trouble north of Lake Crackenback, near Guthega Rd, Guthega, east of Perisher Valley.

It was doing aerial survey work when it crashed, according to the Australian Transport Safety Group.

A pilot was seriously injured in a helicopter crash in the Snowy Mountain region on Friday. Picture: ABC News

Three people were winched to safety and flown to hospital for treatment. Picture: ABC News

The group spent almost three hours stuck in the scrub waiting for help, before the male pilot was winched out first in a serious condition with head, back and possible spinal injuries. He was flown to Canberra Hospital.

Two more patients were winched out with possible spinal injuries, while the remaining two were able to walk out with minor injuries. They were taken to Cooma Hospital by road for further assessment.

“Firefighters are using winches to perform a vertical rescue as there are five passengers with reported injuries after the helicopter landed near Guthega Dam in the Kosciuszko National Park just before midday,” Fire and Rescue NSW said.

“FRNSW crews have also deployed booms to prevent 150-litres of fuel from entering a nearby waterway.”

Emergency workers at the crash scene. Picture: ABC News

The emergency response via road. Picture: ABC News

Two rescue helicopters attended the scene while several ground crews co-ordinated the rescue mission in the bushland with the assistance of NSW Police, the Rural Fire Service, NSW Ambulance and the State Emergency Services.

According to the website FlightRadar24, the helicopter involved in the chopper crash at Wilsons Valley in Kosciuszko National Park was circling back to Jindabyne Airport before it disappeared off the site’s radar at 12.36pm on Friday.

The crash was in a remote area of the Kosciuszko National Park. Picture: Tourism NSW

It is unknown what caused the pilot to make an emergency landing.

Those that know the area say the bushland is dense with no local residences nearby who may have witnessed the accident.

“Any incident involving aircraft has the potential for serious injuries or worse, so the fact that no one lost their life here is either good luck or good piloting,” NSW Ambulance acting inspector Jennifer Barker said.

“Getting access to the patients was really difficult for our crews. Having Rescue Helicopters with winching capabilities was critical to getting everyone treated and safely extricated as quickly as possible.”

An investigation will be conducted, with ATSB specialists travelling to the crash site from Canberra.

“On site, investigators will examine the wreckage and site surrounds, and will retrieve any relevant components for further examination in the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” the ATSB said in a statement.

NSW Environment Minister James Griffin said he would be doing everything possible to support the NPWS staff involved in the crash and their families.

“My thoughts are with the National Parks and Wildlife Service staff and contractor, who were involved in a helicopter incident in Kosciuszko National Park today,” he said.

“The NPWS family is incredibly professional, dedicated and close-knit, and I know this will affect everyone deeply, as it has me.”

In 2018, a helicopter crashed in the Yarrangobilly riverbed while conducting work on the Snowy 2.0 project.

The pilot in that instance was transported to hospital by air and made a full recovery

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