Hughes 269A G-ASBD at South Duffield.
At around 14.00hrs on Saturday, 1st August 1981 this helicopter took off from the owner's farm landing site at Redmoor House, near Skipwith and headed south. A short time later and having climbed to around 1,000 above the ground the engine of the helicopter failed. The aircraft fell into a sugar beet field near Dyon House Farm, South Duffield. The aircraft was registered to the pilot and was had been fitted with crop spraying equipment but it is not known whether those on board were undertaking spraying at the time. Both men were killed as a result of the crash.
It was found that the main rotor thrust bearing had failed due to lack of lubrication, this led to loss of engine power to the rotor blade. An annual maintenance check on the aircraft was two months overdue and there was no record of the bearing being lubricated since 1976.
Pilot - Mr Charles Ronald McNeil. Aged 54. Burial location unknown.
Passenger - Mr Charles Jeremy McNeil. Aged 26. Burial location unknown.