Two bush pilots have pulled off a risky retrieval in remote northern Western Australia, dangling a 1-tonne aeroplane from their helicopter and flying it almost 100 kilometres to the nearest town.

Key points: Helicopter pilots have pulled off a risky mission to retrieve a plane stranded in remote WA

Helicopter pilots have pulled off a risky mission to retrieve a plane stranded in remote WA The plane was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this month north-west of Derby

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this month north-west of Derby The operation was a success, but previously similar attempts have ended in carnage

As the unusual scene played out, residents of the town of Derby stared gobsmacked as the plane and its unlikely cargo made a delicate landing at the local airport.

Pilot Morgan Inglis said it was a challenging task to lift a 1,016-kilogram aeroplane with the helicopter, which weighs 1,340kg.

"It's the first time we've lifted an aeroplane," Mr Inglis said.

"We've moved a few helicopters over the years, but never anything this big.

"There were a lot of challenges, and the aircraft were quite similar in weight, so it felt like a very long hour-and-a-half flight, and I was glad to get back on the ground."

The Cessna 210 landed on Defence land in the remote Kimberley where there was no road access. ( Supplied: Frontier Helicopters )

Passengers rescued

The Cessna 210 became struck in the bush earlier in July after the pilot was forced to land in remote terrain about 80km north-west of Derby.

Mr Inglis happened to be flying nearby, and was able to swoop in on his helicopter and rescue the pilot and two passengers, who were not injured.

The next dilemma was how to retrieve the plane, which could not take off due to the rocky, hilly surrounds.

It had come down in a defence force training area, so building a road was not an option.

Instead, Mr Morgan and his business partner agreed to attempt a vertical lift with their B3 Squirrel helicopter.

Frontier Helicopters owners Morgan Inglis (left) and Dan Grant decided to attempt the risky retrieval with their B3 Squirrel helicopter. ( Supplied: Frontier Helicopters )

Risky lift

The 90km trip had to be done at slow speed to try to keep the dangling aeroplane stable. ( Supplied: Frontier Helicopters )

In preparation, the plane was emptied of fuel and seating, and colourful pool noodles were strapped across the wings to reduce to likelihood of the plane 'flying' on its own.

Mr Inglis said that was the biggest hazard involved.

"There are a lot of issues around lifting an aircraft with wings on," he said.

"If it's not rigged right, or flown too fast, they can become airborne themselves, which is not a good situation to be in.

"The concern is that if it flies up, the plane can start swinging and oscillating and lifting until it's at the same height as you, and could strike the aircraft, or the sling could strike the rotor blades.

"We've got a release mechanism on the belly and also at the end of the long line, so if the plane had started to 'fly itself', then the only option would have been to let it go, and then it becomes a pancake."

Rare manoeuvre

The manoeuvre is rarely attempted, and does not always end well.

In 2015, an aircraft retrieval at Lake Eyre went horribly wrong when the seaplane being carried began to swing wildly.

Pilot David Geers' seaplane was a write-off after it had to be cut loose during a failed helicopter retrieval in South Australia. ( Supplied: David Geers )

The pilot made a split-second decision to release the load, and the seaplane plummeted to the ground and was destroyed.

Peter Howe, from the Australian Helicopter Industry Association, said vertical lifts with such heavy loads were most commonly done in the military.

"It's not often that it happens outside of that, and it'll usually be in remote areas where road access isn't possible, or where there are mudflats, and the owner of the aircraft wants their asset back," Mr Howe said.

"It hasn't always been possible, but in more recent times the larger aircraft have come into service … there is some risk involved but the pilots are all trained.