Search for missing chopper pilot resumes

Mike Mehrtens was spraying gorse in his Hughes 500 when he disappeared. Photo / Supplied

The search for a missing helicopter and its pilot, Michael Graeme Mehrtens, will resume today.

Mr Mehrtens, 35, was the only occupant of the Hughes 500 helicopter which is believed to have crashed into deep water near Breaksea Bay in Lake Sumner on Monday afternoon.

He was understood to have been spraying the area for gorse when the crash occurred.

Searchers have so far turned up only a small amount of debris and an oil slick in the hunt for Mr Mehrtens and the helicopter.

A full-scale search for the missing helicopter and pilot was to resume at daylight this morning, a police communications spokesman said.

Rob Kittow, the principal of Way To Go Heliservices Ltd, confirmed yesterday that the aircraft was one of his company's.

The company was supporting the search and rescue effort by emergency services, and was co-operating with investigating authorities, he said.

Staff and friends were deeply shocked and were doing everything possible to support Mr Mehrtens' family and friends.

"We are a close-knit company and Mike was a highly valued and much-respected team member,'' Mr Kittow said in a statement.

"The aircraft was on a routine agriculture operation and there is nothing at this stage to indicate the cause of the accident.''