Chopper pilot can't remember crash

The helicopter crashed this morning while setting up for the installation of a christmas tree. Photo / TVNZ

Pilot Greg Gribble says he's lucky to be alive but can remember nothing from yesterday's spectacular helicopter crash.

Mr Gribble told media today he believed he blacked out during the crash. He said if he had have been thrown out of the chopper he would have been "cut to shreds".

Mr Gribble was installing the seven-storey, fibre optic Telecom Christmas tree on Te Wero Island, in Auckland's Viaduct Basin when his chopper plunged to the ground about 10.30am.

He was flung out the front door of the helicopter before falling back inside.

He did not want to speculate on the cause of the crash until the investigation was over although he believed he knew what happened.

He is due to meet CAA investigators this afternoon.

Mr Gribble told nzherald.co.nz that it was one of the simplest jobs that his company had done until the accident occurred.

He said they had gone through and practised the procedure the day before so everyone knew what was expected of them.

He said he wanted to thank the rescuers who rushed to pull him from the wreckage. He says they risked their lives because it could have exploded.