TWO pilots escaped uninjured after a helicopter crashed near Selby.

The white Robinson R22 two-seater hit the ground at Sherburn Aero Club shortly before 8pm on Friday.

The £90,000 helicopter is a write-off, but the two men inside escaped without a scratch.

The incident was reported to the Air Accident Investigation Board, which will now carry out an investigation.

Club chairman Adrian White said: "We have our own emergency service team, which dealt with the incident before the ambulance and fire crews arrived.

"No one saw it happen because we were in a meeting at the time. We talked to the pilots, who didn't seem to know what had happened. They were pretty shocked, but uninjured.

"They were later interviewed by the police and then went home." The two pilots - whose names have not been released - hired the helicopter from Bob Hields, who runs one of the country's busiest flying schools.

Speaking at his home in Leeds, Mr Hields said: "It seems likely that the aircraft became unbalanced and then rolled over on to its side. It's what we call a dynamic roll-over.

"The helicopter had taken off and landed a couple of times before the crash.

"They are both qualified pilots and always fly together.

"The helicopter is an insurance write-off. Obviously, it is a financial setback for me, but the main thing is that no one was injured.

"I'm not surprised they walked away because it is designed in a way that if it rolls over, the cockpit remains rigid".

Updated: 11:29 Tuesday, May 31, 2005