Pilot Carl Hearps dies in helicopter crash at Maroota near Hawkesbury River

The pilot who died when his helicopter crashed near South Maroota on Saturday has been remembered as a much-loved local who was always read to help out in fires and floods.

A beloved Hawkesbury helicopter pilot killed in a horror crash in remote bushland has been remembered as a “gem of a man”.

The pilot, Cattai local Carl Hearps, was flying his Bell 206L LongRanger chopper near South Maroota on Saturday morning when it crashed near Tuff Hill Lane around noon.

Mr Hearps was a well-respected pilot in NSW, known in the community for his love of flying and flood relief efforts.

A family friend described Mr Hearps as a “gem of a man”.

“They are such a beautiful family that do so much for the community,” the friend, who did not wish to be identified said.

Pilot Carl Hearps has been killed in a helicopter crash near near South Maroota. Picture: LinkedIn

“He loved flying his helicopters and always helping when the fires went through plus floods in the Hawkesbury area,”

“He was truly a gem of a man who would give you the shirt of his back if you needed help.”

Mr Hearps was the chief pilot for NSW Helicopters and was a senior fire pilot involved in air attack and fire bombing operations during the bushfires.

The grandfather grew up in the Epping area and started his flying career in 1982.

In 2002, Mr Hearps survived a horror, high-speed boat crash on the Hawkesbury River. The boat he was travelling in during the Dargle Cup race flipped while travelling at more than 250km/hour.

The wreckage of a helicopter crash near the Hawkesbury River. Picture: 7News

Rescue crews raced to the site, through dense bushland. Picture: 7News

Police, Ambulance, Polair, NSW RFS and a Westpac Rescue Helicopter were deployed to the wreckage on Saturday, but the dense bushland and flood impacted terrain made access a headache.

Police said the helicopter was well alight by the time emergency crews arrived and it was extinguished by the RFS.

Helicopter safety experts from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have launched an investigation and will examine the crash site on Sunday, with the scene remaining under police guard on Saturday night.

The Bell LongRanger choppers are common and used for firefighting, photography, news coverage and charter.

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Originally published as Pilot Carl Hearps dies in helicopter crash at Maroota near Hawkesbury River