Helicopter wreckage recovered

Allan Munro, (L), and Jason Wright died when their helicopter crashed into Bluff Harbour on Thursday. Photos / Supplied

The wreck of the helicopter that crashed, killing two people on Thursday, has been recovered from Bluff Harbour.

Instructor Jason Wright, 29, of Bluff, and his pupil Allan Munro, 67, of Avondale, 75km north of Invercargill, were found yesterday after their Robinson 22 crashed in the harbour, 2km southeast of Colyers Island.

The body of Mr Wright was found inside the submerged but intact helicopter and the body of Mr Munro was found on a nearby shore.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman Bill Sommer told NZPA the wreckage was lifted out of the water late yesterday afternoon.

"Our safety investigators made the decision ... that with the poor weather that was forecasted coming into the area, it would probably be better to get it out now rather than have it damaged in conditions over the next three days."

Police used a Squirrel helicopter to recover the wreckage, following CAA safety investigators' instructions, he said.

It was put on a truck and taken to a secure area for examination.

Two CAA investigators will begin examining the wreckage today to try and determine the cause of the crash.

Inspector Olaf Jensen of Invercargill police said the men's deaths had been reported to the coroner and formal identification was likely to be completed today.

- NZPA