THE pilot of a helicopter which crashed in a Herefordshire field heard a "loud bang" moments before, investigators say.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch published an update on the ongoing investigation, saying a full report would follow in two months.

The Rotorway Executive 162F helicopter, registration G-JDHN, crashed in Ledbury a year ago today, April 2, with the aircraft landing on its side in a field off Bromyard Road.

Investigators said the helicopter was cruising when the pilot heard a loud "bang", which caused the aircraft to react in a way that he did not understand. He started an autorotation, which is a way of landing a helicopter using the flow of air and not the main engine, and touched down in a field.

But investigators said just before the helicopter stopped, the left skid caught on uneven ground and it rolled onto its side.

Paramedics, fire crews and police officers were all at the scene, in a field off Bromyard Road

Paramedics, fire crews and police officers were all at the scene, in a field off Bromyard Road

Both occupants left the helicopter having suffered minor injuries in the crash, which was on Good Friday.

"The investigation has identified small defects on the sealing of an exhaust valve which may have led to unburnt fuel igniting in the exhaust system," investigators said in their anniversary update.

"The final report into the accident is expected to be published in June 2022."

West Mercia Police said at the time that it received several calls about the crash, the first of which started to come in at around 3pm.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Ledbury also attended the crash site, as did the Midlands Air Ambulance.

A fire service spokesperson said the light aircraft landed in a field and was made safe by the crews, who assisted police and paramedics.