The dead pilot. RIP mate.
Police have found the body of a missing pilot and the wreckage of his helicopter in Western Australia's Pilbara.
He planned to fly to Roy Hill Station in Nullagine in the single-seat helicopter, about 300 kilometres away.
An extensive search was launched for Mr McDowell when he failed to arrive.
Eight helicopters and two planes as well as ground crews were involved in the search, which covered a 3,000-square-kilometre area.
Police said the wreckage was found about 11 kilometres north of Roy Hill station.
Mr McDowell was well known locally and had more than 40 years' flying experience.
It may be sometime until we're able to determine the cause of the crash unfortunately.WA Police Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall
Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall said it was too early to say what caused the crash.
"It was a catastrophic crash, let's put it that way," Senior Sergeant Snashall said.
"I'm relying on information that's coming from my officers at the scene, but by all accounts it was a catastrophic incident."
He said Mr McDowell's family had been notified of his death.
"They've been given the sad news and we're respecting their privacy and hopefully the media will respect their privacy at this time," he said.
"It's not a nice end to what has been a long 24-hour search by police and rescuers - it's a very sad situation."
Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Civil Aviation Safety Authority officers have been sent to the scene to investigate the crash.
"We'll secure the scene and we'll wait for the experts in that area to attend," Senior Sergeant Snashall said.
"It may be some time until we're able to determine the cause of the crash unfortunately."
A report is also being prepared for the WA coroner.
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Ross McDowell runs Port Hedland-based Rossy Rotor Aviation. Photo: Drone and Dusted/YouTubeHis family have been notified.
Police will work with the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau to investigate the cause of the crash and prepare a report for the coroner.
Police have released this image of the missing helicopter. Photo: USHER Susan [PD82522]The search began on Tuesday evening when the aircraft failed to arrive.
Eight helicopters and two aircraft were involved in the search of more than 3000 square kilometres of rocky and remote terrain. The missing helicopter was classed as "experimental" - licensed to fly, but not certified for commercial use.
"There was no distress signal or contact with Mr McDowell," Ms Usher said.
Mr McDowell, originally from New Zealand, had mustered cattle in the Kimberley region since the early 1980s and had some 40 years' flying experience.
He ran his own company, Rossy Rotor Aviation, out of Port Hedland.
Mr Dowell was the focus of a short film about cattle mustering and drones called Drone and Dusted, which was entered into Tropfest Film Festival in 2013.
| Date: | 28-JUL-2015 |
| Time: | 18:30 |
| Type: | Cicare CH-7Bt |
| Owner/operator: | Rossy Rotor Aviation Pty Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-JEW |
| C/n / msn: | 032 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | North of Roy Hill Station, Pilbara, WA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Indee Station, South Hedland |
| Roy Hill Station |
The helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances.
The pilot died in the crash. Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178121 http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/29/western-australia-helicopter-search-body-found-at-pilbara-crash-site
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/south-hedland-police-lead-search-for-missing-helicopter-pilot-in-pilbara-20150729-gimmf8
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-29/missing-wa-helicopter-pilot-confirmed-dead-in-crash/6658164
http://casa-query.funnelback.com/search/search.cgi?collection=casa_aircraft_register&profile=_default&meta_v_sand=&meta_A=-allresults&meta_o_sand=&meta_m_sand=&meta_X_sand=&meta_r_sand=&meta_q_sand=Rossy&meta_xyear_sand=&meta_Y_sand=&num_ranks=10&Search=Search