A helicopter pilot was forced to ditch in Auckland Harbour after his prototype carbon fibre craft malfunctioned during a promotional flight.
Pilot Peter Maloney observed a turbine warning light on his helicopter control panel as he was flying over Auckland Harbour and was able to make a controlled emergency water landing.
He and his passenger managed to escape the aircraft before it sank and were rescued by New Zealand maritime police who were training in the area.
"The water landing was effectively uneventful. Everything went as it should do in a condition like that and we both managed to get out of the aircraft without any injuries," said pilot Peter Maloney.
"The landing was amazingly smooth for an emergency landing," passenger Nina Heatly said.
The emergency landing was captured by Mrs Heatly's husband who was filming the flight to promote the helicopter at a Russian air show.
"The aircraft has done about 200 hours of flying and the reason we were over water is because we are still in our flight-evaluation phase. Up until now the helicopter has been flying really well," Mr Maloney said.
Mr Maloney's company Composite Helicopters built the KC-518, which is marketed as the world's first all carbon Kevlar helicopter. The owners say they are arranging to retrieve it from the sea floor.
New Zealand civil aviation authorities are investigating the incident.
Pilot Peter Maloney observed a turbine warning light on his helicopter control panel as he was flying over Auckland Harbour and was able to make a controlled emergency water landing.
He and his passenger managed to escape the aircraft before it sank and were rescued by New Zealand maritime police who were training in the area.
"The water landing was effectively uneventful. Everything went as it should do in a condition like that and we both managed to get out of the aircraft without any injuries," said pilot Peter Maloney.
"The landing was amazingly smooth for an emergency landing," passenger Nina Heatly said.
The emergency landing was captured by Mrs Heatly's husband who was filming the flight to promote the helicopter at a Russian air show.
"The aircraft has done about 200 hours of flying and the reason we were over water is because we are still in our flight-evaluation phase. Up until now the helicopter has been flying really well," Mr Maloney said.
Mr Maloney's company Composite Helicopters built the KC-518, which is marketed as the world's first all carbon Kevlar helicopter. The owners say they are arranging to retrieve it from the sea floor.
New Zealand civil aviation authorities are investigating the incident.
Source : Telegraph
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