Pilot John Bunn told how he thought he would die when his helicopter went into a spin and crashed.

His helicopter was written off when it crashed into the arena at Hickstead showground but he escaped with only a bruise on his knee the size of a 10p piece.

Mr Bunn, 35, had just dropped off his father, Douglas Bunn, who owns the showground, when he got into difficulties.

He said: "I had just taken off from the arena and was hovering 10ft above the ground when the helicopter went into a spin. I had no choice but to put it down. It was very scary.

"It all happened in seconds but it felt like a lifetime."

Mr Bunn managed to keep control of the £150,000 Westland Gazelle and landed it as it screwed itself into the ground.

He said: "When it came to rest, I just felt extremely annoyed. It was a very nice toy."

A report on the accident, just published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), said an engineering inspection found no mechanical failure.

Mr Bunn said the investigation suggested wind conditions may have led to the tail rotor becoming ineffective, affecting stability.

He said: "In theory, the spinning should stop after one min ute 35 seconds but, after a minute, I had had enough of it and decided to land."

Mr Bunn said he still believed the main reason for the crash was a mechanical problem.

The AAIB said the rotor blade system, tail boom, tail fins and skids were all damaged in the crash but couplings were found to be intact.

Mr Bunn, of Twineham Lane, Hickstead, runs part of the family business, holiday parks group Bunn Leisure, based at Selsey, near Chichester.

He said: "It has not made me nervous. I have been flying since 1993 and, if you fly long enough, these sorts of things happen."

He was back flying the day after the accident and has replaced the damaged helicopter.