KEY POINTS:
Hamilton police say two men were "very lucky" to have walked away almost unscathed from a helicopter crash yesterday.
The Robinson Beta 22 aircraft, worth $315,000 new, went down on Te Kowhai airstrip, about 5km northwest of Hamilton, just before 1pm.
It appeared to be a write-off.
Constable Craig Berquist of Te Rapa police said two men were in the cockpit when the aircraft went down.
One was an instructor and the other a trainee pilot, Mr Berquist said.
It was understood the trainee pilot had come in to land too hard and fast, causing the helicopter to bounce off the ground and on to its side. The total weight of a Robinson Beta 22 is approximately 388kg.
A farm contractor, working on an adjacent paddock, said the helicopter had been practising landings for some time before the crash.
The trainee pilot suffered a minor laceration to his ear and was sent to hospital for observation.
The instructor remained at the scene of the crash.
Mr Berquist said the Civil Aviation Authority would be investigating the incident, although no one arrived at the site yesterday.
A police photographer was asked to take pictures on behalf of the authority.
