A PILOT and his passenger were lucky to survive when their helicopter caught fire and crash landed in a field.
The pilot noticed fire had broken out in the engine shortly after take off in the RotorWay Exec home-built helicopter from a farm near Hastings Road, Northiam, near Hastings. It was on a test flight to see if it was safe to fly.
The pilot managed to land safely in a remote field at the Commons Wood Farm in Hastings Road but twisted the tail of the aircraft. Both men ran to safety but were badly shaken up.
In seconds, the fibreglass body melted in the heat of the fire.
The burning aircraft was carrying 17 gallons of aviation fuel.
The pilot, in his 40s, suffered minor burns to his forearm and his passenger, in his late 20s, suffered cuts and bruises.
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