Police name man who died in helicopter crash

A man is dead after a Robinson R22 helicopter crashed near Murchison about 5pm yesterday.

Police today named the dead man as the machine's owner Phillip Devon Heney, 52, of Murchison.

A second occupant, a man in his 20s, had been flown to Nelson Hospital with severe injuries, Constable Jevon McSkimming said.

The crash happened near State Highway 65 in an area known as Shenandoah, 23km south west of Murchison.

Mr McSkimming said the helicopter, which was largely intact after the crash, had been coming into land on a farm helicopter pad.

The injured man had needed "quite a bit of care" and leaking fuel had to be dealt with.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said two investigators were due at the scene this morning and were likely to remain there at least for the rest of today and possibly into tomorrow.

Little information was expected from them during today as the area was out of cellphone coverage range.

Murchison chief fire officer Paul Wilkins said four firefighters, along with a security guard, had remained at the scene overnight to keep the it safe and ensure the helicopter did not ignite.

- NZPA