The helicopter was taken away for investigations

It had earlier airlifted a seriously-ill patient to Swansea's Morriston Hospital.

Aviation inspectors are now to examine the helicopter, which broke in two when it hit the ground and left small parts of debris scattered across a field.

The civilian pilot and one of two police officers on board escaped with minor injuries and were treated at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.

Experts from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch were joined by representatives from the machine's Italian manufacturers at the crash site before the helicopter was loaded onto a truck and driven away.

Crash probe

"From there it will be taken back to Sloane's in Northamptonshire where it originally came from," a police spokesman said.

"Engineers at Sloane's and an expert from Augusta will then examine it and try to piece together the reason for the crash."

Dyfed-Powys Police's insurers will have to pay for a new machine - but the arrival of a replacement may not be as soon as hoped.

The South Wales Police helicopter crash landed in Cardiff

Regulations mean the aircraft must be fitted with specialist equipment like searchlights and thermal imaging cameras.

The force expects to find a short-term replacement, however.

The Agusta 109 is a well-regarded helicopter, but two previous accidents in Kent and Berkshire were attributed to ambiguities in a maintenance manual.

The Dyfed-Powys accident follows one in April 2000 when the South Wales Police helicopter crashed into the roof of a Cardiff house while pursuing a stolen car.

A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch revealed a badly-fitted part caused that mechanical failure.

The branch is now expected to take charge of the new probe.