A HELICOPTER spun round twice before plummeting into the Grand Canyon, preliminary crash reports have revealed.

Stuart Hill, was celebrating his 30th birthday on the trip of a lifetime with brother Jason, 32, and girlfriend Becky Dobson, when they were all killed in the crash.

Newlyweds Jonathan Udall, 32, and Ellie Milward, 29, also from Worthing, who were on their honeymoon are still fighting for their lives after suffering serious burns.

A preliminary report into the crash released by American aviation disaster investigators said the Airbus EC130 B4 helicopter made at least two 360 degree turned before plummeting to the ground and crashing on tribal land.

The National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report does not what caused the crash on February 10 and a full report is not expected for more than a year.

Aviation experts said that the report combined with eye witness descriptions of the moments before the crash would suggest the tail rotor on the tourist helicopter, operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, was not functioning properly.

The tail rotor would normally prevent the aircraft from spinning - but could have been affected by mechanical failure or wind conditions.

According to the preliminary report, the helicopter slowed as it neared the landing area and turned to the left to face the pads.

The report said the sightseeing helicopter “was destroyed when it impacted a canyon wash while on an approach to land at Quartermaster landing zone near Peach Springs, Arizona.”

“The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries and three passengers were fatally injured,” it read.

“The helicopter made at least two 360-degree left turn revolutions as it descended into the wash below where it impacted terrain and a post-crash fire ensued,” the preliminary report stated.

It added “visual meteorological conditions prevailed” and that before the crash the helicopter “manoeuvred into a nose-level configuration” before spinning “at least twice”.

The report also noted that a weather observation site two miles from the crash location had recorded just a gentle breeze with wind speeds of 12 knots.