The pilot of a helicopter which caught fire during a flight has been found by rescuers unharmed next to the burned out wreck at the crash site.
The man, who works for a logging company, was flying from Taumarunui to Oruanui near Taupo this morning to take the helicopter for a maintenance check when he ran into trouble.
After failing to arrive at his scheduled time, a routine search and rescue mission was started.
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand ran the search, sending a rescue helicopter along the missing helicopter's planned flight path.
![The crash site in Pureora Forest Park near Taupo. Photo/ Greenlea Rescue Helicopter](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/GOYSQWYEJZQA2QDFKAOEQ2XJ3A.jpg?auth=9ad8192689d9bd10b5e729da5f25e231344ecf4ce0178cb0b11c298f1e21140e&width=16&height=20&quality=70&smart=true)