AIR accident investigators have failed to pinpoint the exact cause of a helicopter crash in which a Bolton businessman escaped with his life.

Last September James Booth miraculously walked away unscathed after he was forced to crash land the aircraft he was piloting in a Westhoughton field.

Mr Booth, 61, who runs a successful Westhoughton-based haulage business had only had his pilot's licence for seven months at the time of the accident.

Eyewitnesses watched as the Enstrom 280FX two seater helicopter suddenly went into a spin and plunged to the ground from a height of 20 feet as Mr Booth tried to land it.

An official report says an inspection of the engine has failed to find any "defect or failure."

Mr Booth told inspectors that he sensed a change in the engine's note shortly before he was forced to crash land.

In their report AAIB Inspectors noted: "Witness marks between the cooling fan and the structure suggested that the engine had stopped by the time that the damage had occurred, but there was no external evidence of any defect or failure upon visual inspection of the engine.

"Should any significant defects become apparent during any future stripdown or re-build they will be reported upon in a future AAIB Bulletin."

After the helicopter had touched down, its right strut dug into the soft ground and the machine tipped to one side, its rotor blades twisting as they hit the field.

Inspectors said in their report that the machine had been so badly damaged that it was now an insurance 'write-off' and is presently awaiting sale.

Mr Booth was able to clamber to safety following the accident and after being checked over at Leigh Infirmary he was later released.

Only a day after the drama, which came as Mr Booth was flying back to his company's base from Barton Airport, he vowed to take to the skies again.

Yesterday a spokesman for the AAIB stressed the report was not meant to establish blame for the accident.

Mr Booth was not available for comment.

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