Agree with shortshaft
It can't be that big of a surprise that they wouldn't be approved if he had talked to the CAA before buying the helicopters. It's not the best way to first buy helicopters, then seek approval. Doing it the other way around is obviously less risky. Seems to me that Mr Ford gambled on getting a couple of very cheap helicopters and lost. Maybe lacked a little bit on the research-side?
It's the same thing with the BO105 that are beeing sold by the german army, they can't get on the civil register, so it doesn't matter how cheap they are because without a registration they're suddenly very expensive. Knowing this keeps me from trying to get one.
/2beers