KEY POINTS:
A Central Otago helicopter pilot whose trophy-hunting passenger fell to his death when the helicopter put down near a 164m bluff, was "flying like a maniac" before the incident, a witness told a Queenstown inquest.
United States hunter Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, was killed on May 22, 2006 when he fell down the bluff near Wanaka, after stepping out of the helicopter.
Mr Senter, his friend Nelson Rapanot and their wives were on a guided expedition with Leithen Valley Trophy Hunts, the Southland Times newspaper reported today.
Back Country Helicopters pilot Harvey Hutton and guide Rachel Stewart had taken the party hunting for chamois on the day of the accident.
Giving evidence by satellite video link from Hawaii yesterday, Mr Rapanot said he was surprised Mr Hutton had decided to fly in poor conditions.
Mr Rapanot said he had been assured Mr Hutton was the best pilot around.
Mr Rapanot said he didn't like the aggressive way Mr Hutton flew when they spotted a chamois.
"That guy was flying like a maniac," he told coroner Ian Macalister.
Mr Rapanot said he regretted not giving Mr Hutton "an earful".
Mr Rapanot and Mr Senter's widow, Linda Senter, asked why the pilot had chosen the landing site and descended at the angle he did.
Mr Macalister said he would put their questions to Mr Hutton when he gave evidence today.
- NZPA
