Chopper operators' feud 'put lives at risk'

An American tourist had to run for his life when bad blood between two West Coast helicopter operators spilled over on to the helipad, a jury was told yesterday.

Fox Glacier pilot Colin Stephen Tuck, 52, is charged with using a Hughes 500 helicopter in a manner that caused unnecessary danger to others at Whataroa River on May 14, 2004.

Opening the Crown case in Greymouth District Court, prosecutor Craig Ruane said there was no love lost between Tuck and rival operator Shane Quinn, and the feud boiled over when Brian McBride, piloting Mr Quinn's chopper, touched down to pick up a hunting party at Whataroa.

Mr Ruane said Mr McBride's helicopter was stationary with the engine running and rotors turning, when Tuck flew in at high speed from behind and landed so close that only a metre separated the tips of the revolving rotor blades. Joseph Hunstad, an American on a hunting holiday, had been approaching Mr McBride's machine, but ran for his life.

Defence lawyer Phillip Hall said because of the "bad blood" between Mr Quinn and Tuck, the evidence of Mr Quinn and his employee Mr McBride was exaggerated.

- NZPA