A HELICOPTER crash, which claimed two lives, could have been caused by the dual controls being moved when a passenger leaned over to take a photo.

Peter Clarke, 24, of Ledborough Wood, Beaconsfield, and passenger Aaron Jones, Mr Clarke's girlfriend's father, were killed when the Robinson R22 hit the ground near an airfield in Warwickshire in July, 2002.

Air Accident investigators concluded Mr Jones may have inadvertently moved the pilot's stick while taking a picture from the side window of the helicopter, but it "was not possible to say with any certainty" what caused the crash.

The report concluded: "The passenger was using a camera and a photograph of Warwick racecourse was taken about ten seconds before the accident.

"The photograph was taken from a confined position in the left seat with the dual controls in close proximity to the passenger."

The report recommended Robinson Helicopter Company should encourage flyers to remove the dual controls on helicopters when the passenger is not a qualified helicopter pilot.