A helicopter on a scenic flight lost rotor power and was forced into an emergency landing near Uluru, seriously injuring the pilot and one of three passengers.
The single-engine Robinson R44 came down hard in scrubland shortly after taking off on a sunset tour about 6pm on Wednesday at a remote site 1.5km west of Yulara and 800 metres into scrubland from the helipad.
"During climb, the pilot received a low rotor speed warning, entered an autorotation and conducted a forced landing on a sand dune," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is investigating, said in a statement on Thursday.
"The helicopter subsequently rolled, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot and one passenger."
The 32-year-old pilot and a 32-year-old male passenger were airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where they both remained in a serious but stable condition with spinal and other injuries.
The other passengers, a 46-year-old woman and 35-year-old man, were treated for less serious injuries in the Alice Springs Hospital.
All three passengers are Australians.
Professional Helicopter Services, which operated the flight, said despite the pilot's best efforts to put down safely, the chopper slid down the dune and ended up on its side.
"Our immediate priority is for the welfare of our passengers and our pilot," the company said in a statement.
"Our local team worked closely with authorities to secure their rescue in difficult terrain and we are very proud of the way they handled what was a difficult and distressing situation."
The company said it had been running tourist operations at Uluru for 27 years and pledged to co-operate fully with investigations into the incident.
"The tourist operating community here is a tight-knit one and we are all in shock at what has occurred," a spokesman said.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the passengers involved in this incident and, of course, the pilot who is both our colleague and friend."
Northern Territory Police established a crime scene at the crash site as they waited for ATSB investigators to arrive.
The ATSB said it would interview the pilot and witnesses and review all available evidence as part of its inquiries.
