Gyrocopter ‘crash lands’ into a field after ‘propeller struck in mid-air’

A gyrocopter pilot performed a daring emergency landing in a field after his propeller was struck and damaged over Greater Manchester.

The black aircraft was seen ‘spinning’ in the air before it ‘fell out of the sky’ by witnesses on social media.

It crash landed into a field near the village of Lostock at around 1.25pm on Thursday.

The pilot was forced to perform the hard landing after the propeller of the vehicle was struck mid-air, according to the Manchester Evening News.

A witness captures the moment the gyrocopter leans to the right and falls out of the sky.

The bent rotors were seen later as the pilot was checked over by first responders.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: ‘We were called to reports of a gyrocopter crash on Kilworth Drive in Lostock, Bolton.

‘Officers attended the scene and located the pilot – a man in his 60s. Thankfully no injuries have been reported.

‘It is believed it was a forced landing opposed to a crash. Air accident investigators are currently investigating the incident.’

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: ‘At 1.40pm on Thursday (November 13) four fire engines from Bolton Central, Eccles and Atherton fire stations plus the technical rescue unit from Leigh fire station were called to reports of a helicopter making an emergency landing in a field off Kilworth Drive, Lostock.

‘Firefighters made the aircraft and surrounding area safe alongside partners and were in attendance for around 45 minutes.’

A gyropcopter looks like a helicopter but its engine works differently.

The rotors at the top are not engine-driven. They are made to rotate by the action of the air, which keeps it in the sky.

The propellers at the front and back are driven by an engine and push and pull the aircraft forward.