Helicopter destroyed by cow
The helicopter burst into flames after colliding with the cow. Coen Police Station

A cow in Queensland went head to head with a helicopter – and won.

Local police have said that the cow apparently got its horns caught in the bottom of a Robinson R22 Beta mustering helicopter on the afternoon of 18 September. The incident resulted in the helicopter crashing down onto a nearby road and bursting into flames, while the cow lived to tell the tale.

The police report stated: "It's believed the rails underneath the helicopter got tangled up in the cow's horns, causing the chopper to lose balance. The pilot, a 35-year-old Richmond man, walked away from the crash without any injury. The cow escaped becoming roast beef and lived to roam another day."

The Rural Fire Service attended the crash and extinguished the aircraft, which was "totally destroyed". The pilot is said to have struck the cow on Coen Cattle Station just after 2.40pm near the Peninsula Development Road.

The police and Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the incident.