Investigations have been launched into an accident which involved a helicopter impacting the ground shortly after lift-off.

Emergency services were called to the scene at a private rural address on Bennett Road near Matatā at 3.15pm on Sunday.

The Bell 206L-3 LongRanger helicopter, registration ZK-IGD, experienced violent shaking shortly after lift-off and impacted the ground on its left side, according to an initial report by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

The privately-owned helicopter was extensively damaged, and investigators were on site from Monday afternoon. They are expected to be there for multiple days as they gather evidence from the scene.

Police have confirmed one person was trapped in the helicopter following the accident.

A man was airlifted to hospital after being stabilised by Aerocool Rescue Helicopter’s onboard critical care flight paramedic. He was transported to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment of his moderate injuries.

Two other people on the helicopter were transported to Whakatāne Hospital with minor injuries.

Initial reports were that one passenger was in a serious condition and two were in a moderate condition, but that was later revised by Hato Hone St John.

Two ambulances, two rapid response units, two helicopters and one manager were sent to the scene by St John.

Six police units responded, as did Matatā Fire Brigade.

The incident was referred to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for investigation.

The agencies operate independently of each other; the TAIC conducts only a select number of investigations each year, which are focused on finding causes of crashes rather than fault.

The commission produces reports with recommendations aimed at various sectors of the industry to prevent similar accidents from occurring again.

The CAA is a government agency capable of undertaking prosecutions when required and is among the organisations that recommendations can be made to by the TAIC.

Flight tracking data showed that the helicopter made a 57-minute flight two days prior to the crash, from Ardmore Airport to the residential address on Bennett Road.

The address is associated with the helicopter’s registered owner, who previously owned a Whakatāne-based helicopter company.