During the morning of 5th January 2001 the pilot of this helicopter set out from Chorley to fly to Windermere to the home of the aircraft's owner by the side of the lake.
While descending to make a landing at the landing site the pilot stated that the visibility had reduced and that he had been distracted in adjusting the landing light.
The aircraft descended quicker than he thought and into the lake at 07.50hrs which was still in darkness at the time. The pilot freed himself from the sinking helicopter
and swam ashore. The helicopter sank but was later recovered five days later.
Pilot - Mr William Thomas Scarratt DFC, aged 61. Mild Hypothermia.
Bill Scarratt was granted a short service commission in the Army Air Corps on 9th December 1974 and was awarded the DFC for service in Northern Ireland
"in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st August 1974 to 31st October 1974" Gazetted on 25th March 1975.
He was a former member of the Red Devils parachute display team and also a former member of the Blue Eagles, Army Air Corps helicopter display team. After leaving the
forces he became a civilian helicopter pilot.
This Bell Jetranger was initially registered on the UK civilian register as G-BVWR by Ford Helicopters Ltd in December 1994 and passed to Roto-Motion UK in 1997.
Helixair Ltd, based at Chorley, Lancashire obtained the aircraft in July 1998 and re-registered it as G-OBAY. After it was recovered from Lake Windermere it was rebuilt and
re-registered to C.I.Motors Ltd, Weeton, Preston in 2003 but it does not appear to be airworthy after 2003.
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