A report into the helicopter crash on October 27, 2018, has revealed new details about the failures that caused the incident
Rob TannerThe AAIB report into the circumstances of the helicopter crash outside King Power Stadium — which killed five people, including
Swaffer was the primary pilot of G-VSKP, Khun Vichai’s personal helicopter. He was qualified on, and regularly flew, the owner’s AW109 helicopter and their Boeing B737‑7EI Business Jet . During 2018, he had flown 55 hours in G-VSKP, 17 hours in AW109 helicopters as well as 74 hours in the BBJ and other Boeing 737 aircraft. He had trained on the AW169 model, built by Leonardo Helicopters, since 2016.
They were given flight clearance after it was confirmed a small unmanned surveillance craft used by the police had been grounded. The stadium was clear for the helicopter to return at 6.37pm and they took off at 6.44pm, landing on the pitch three minutes later.The planned trip was to Stansted Airport to meet a corporate craft and between 7pm and 7.33pm the passengers returned before take off at 7.37pm.
Unfortunately, as the helicopter hit the ground while still rotating, it landed on a concrete step. This helped tip the helicopter onto its left side, fracturing the fuselage and fuel tank. The physical evidence recovered from the accident site confirmed that the loss of yaw control of the helicopter resulted from failures in the tail rotor control system, which physically disconnected it from the pilot’s control inputs on the yaw pedals.
Now, after nearly five years, the families of the deceased have some answers about what happened that night, but it doesn’t bring much closure as the battle looks set to reach the courtroom. “I am deeply saddened by the course of events,” Khun Top said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning. “Almost five years after my father’s passing, this report provides concerning evidence against Leonardo.
“This of course is every mother’s worst nightmare and time is not healing,” said Deborah Sutton, mother of Eric Swaffer. “Eric and Izabela were an inseparable couple, devoted to each other and to their flying. Without them, there is an enormous hole in our lives.“My sister and Eric were such bright lights in my life, we shared many adventures, but they had so many more plans and dreams to accomplish,” said Kate Lechowicz, sister of Izabela.
“Nothing fills the hole they leave; my only consolation is that even now they fly high together. Forever missed, forever loved.”
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