This is the dramatic moment a helicopter spun sideways to avoid crashing into a lighthouse in France.

The Eurocopter AS350 was taking crates to the top of the La Vieille lighthouse during maintenance work when it lost altitude in Plogoff on July 6.

Footage shows the aircraft veering out of control, tilting and spinning sideways before emitting a cloud of smoke.

The pilot eventually regained control of the helicopter but a worker was injured after being struck by the chopper as it nearly crashed.

Worker's union leader Florian Quiguer told local media: ‘The pilot explained to me that the accident occurred when the helicopter was removing one of the frames from the lighthouse's lantern. He was on the walkway.'

Florian added that the eyewitness worker claimed that the helicopter lifted the load vertically which caused it to lose balance.

He said: ‘The helicopter lifted the load vertically, became unbalanced and the pilot lost control. The load caught my colleague against the wall and that's why he was injured.'

However, the cause of the crash was still unknown as authorities have not yet concluded the investigation.

The injured worker remained at the hospital while the private operator Mont Blanc Helicopteres began working with officials to investigate the incident.