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A pilot has died after a helicopter crash in Sydney's north-west on Saturday morning.
Carl Hearps was flying over the flood zone at Sackville North, near Windsor, shortly before 11.50am when his chopper came down.
Emergency crews found the experienced pilot's body after they accessed the site through difficult terrain and flood-affected bushland.
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Andrew Millett, a Nine News helicopter pilot, spotted the plume of smoke while working on a news story about floods near Wisemans Ferry.
"We turned around and I saw just at that moment, a puff of very thick black smoke starting to appear from the bush not too far from where we were – maybe about five kilometres."
Millett went to investigate the smoke that "just didn't look right", but initially thought it could be someone burning rubbish.
"When I saw part of the wreckage, I realised it was a helicopter," he said.
"We were there within a few minutes. I alerted emergency services and gave them the location because it was in quite a bad terrain environment.
"I got as close as I could and was calling out to see if anyone [was there], hoping someone would respond."
Millet said he has known the pilot for more than 10 years.
"He was such a great guy," he said.
"He was always one of those blokes that would drop anything to help anyone in need.
"(He) always just had this friendly nature about him."
Hearps led flood recovery and firebombing efforts during his career.
The experienced pilot also survived a high-speed boat crash on the Hawkesbury River back in 2002.
He walked away with lower back and hip pain.
A crime scene has been established and will be held under police guard overnight, with a recovery operation and investigations to continue tomorrow.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Source: 9News
