Pilot denies threatening tourists with helicopter

Tourists visiting Mt Tarawera, in western Bay of Plenty were in fear of their lives when a helicopter hovered close to them, a court was told.

Stephen Peter Collins, a 43-year-old helicopter pilot, pleaded not guilty in Rotorua District Court to operating a Hughes 369D helicopter on the mountain on July 8 last year in a manner that caused unnecessary danger.

Collins has the lease to the top part of the mountain.

Craig White, of Auckland, told the court yesterday that on July 8 he and three friends were confronted by a low-flying helicopter after they climbed the mountain without paying.

Mr White said a man in the helicopter told him the pilot was so angry he wanted to kill him and his friends.

The distance between the group and the helicopter was "extremely close" in aviation terms, Crown Solicitor John McDonald told the court.

The group was concerned for its safety and some feared for their lives, Mr McDonald said.

An employee of Collins' jumped out of the helicopter and asked Mr White why the group was on the mountain, Mr White said.

The helicopter then hovered about 7m to 9m away.

"I felt really threatened. It was just way too close. It (the helicopter) was exactly in my path."

Mr White told the court he could see Collins waving his fist, yelling and pointing at him.

"I couldn't make out what he was saying, but he seemed very angry."

Mr White said he and his friends walked to their car where they paid Collins' employee.

The next day, Mr White contacted police and the Civil Aviation Authority.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)