A helicopter pilot tried to crash land in a hedge when the engine cut out and it suddenly dropped to the ground, it emerged today.
Father-of-three Fred Balcombe was killed and pilot John Todd seriously injured when they were thrown from the aircraft after inspecting gas pipes in Co Clare.
The accident happened on July 12th, 2007 near the village of Ballynacally, about 10 miles from Ennis.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit found a gear in the engine had disintegrated, cutting its fuel supply and power within seconds.
Mr Todd, who suffered serious head injuries, told investigators after the impact he saw his passenger was still conscious, asked if he was okay, but he replied he was not.
Mr Balcombe (69) from Townparks, Skerries, Co Dublin, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The men, employed by Irish Helicopters which specialises in aerial patrols of the country's network of main gas and electrical pipelines, were contracted by Bord Gais to survey its Galway-to-Shannon pipeline.
They lowered to take a closer inspection of works, but after the aircraft was turned the engine stopped suddenly and without warning.
Leo Murray, the investigator-in-charge, said the Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel helicopter impacted into farmland to the west of Ballynacally in rising terrain.
The low height the helicopter flying at and nature of the terrain in the area were also factors in the crash.
"The helicopter's forward cockpit area disintegrated as a result of impact with trees, with both occupants being thrown from the helicopter during the impact sequence," said Mr Murray.
"The observer was fatally injured and was pronounced dead at the scene. The pilot suffered serious impact injuries."
PA