Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By Paul_Sengupta
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1647742
They've now confirmed five dead.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46013381

Leicestershire Police said it believed the dead to be:

Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Two members of his staff Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare
Pilot Eric Swaffer
Passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz

Ms Lechowicz, who moved to the UK from Poland in 1997, and Mr Swaffer were professional pilots and lived together in Camberley, Surrey.


:(
#1648096
CCTV video on GMB this morning shows it taking off, then it goes above the frame, then re-appears spiralling down as if the tail rotor had gone, but eye witness (ex football player) says he saw at least one minor explosion as it was descending; maybe it hit an unseen cable?
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By Dave W
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1648145
A couple of people have posted links to this video. We have removed them, because as we've said previously we don't want links to graphic videos or stills of fatal accidents on the forum.

Thanks.
vintage ATCO, joe-fbs, Ian Melville and 8 others liked this
#1648227
This is very unpleasant situation and having looked at insurance for Eric ( the pilot) on aircraft over the years its sad to hear about this . Having seen footage of the lift & climb away its all a large unknown - suffice to say the tail rotor to my eye seems to have become ineffective at a point when there was a high power demand on the engines - with the obvious rotational consequences.
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By Rob P
#1648290
Dave W wrote:A couple of people have posted links to this video.


The Sun (sorry) has mobile phone footage that appears to show something detaching from the chopper at high speed before the loss of control

Rob P
#1648298
How realistic is the scenario that the pilot was able to direct the helicopter to a less busy area? Since he hardly had any forward speed when the rotations started I'm wondering if there was any control left for him to play with.
#1648305
Rob P wrote:
Dave W wrote:A couple of people have posted links to this video.


The Sun (sorry) has mobile phone footage that appears to show something detaching from the chopper at high speed before the loss of control

Rob P


I think that is just one of the flies, lit up by floodlights at stadium level. That is 5 seconds before there is any indication of rotation. Ignore the Sun's close up, watch the original frame by frame.
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By Rob P
#1648307
Thanks, but watching it once was enough, I'll leave the analysis to the AAIB - but that is useful insight.

I had considered it might be an artefact.

Rob P
By PaulB
#1648612
The AAIB has just posted another update on this incident.

Basically the wreckage has been recovered to FArnborough and the CVR & FDR have been recovered and are being analysed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/upda ... ent-g-vskp
By plus7g
#1649270
From another site:
I [i]believe a service bulletin emergency alert has just been issued by Leonardo. Assuming what I just received is legit, inspections to the back area of the TR servo-actuator required to be carried out within next 5 flying hours or one day, whichever sooner, following an in service event. "Incorrect installation may lead to loss of TR control".[/i]
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By Sooty25
#1650965
Breaking news from the BBC,

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the helicopter started to turn right "contrary to the pilot's left pedal command".

It added the cause of the apparent loss of control is still being investigated


I assume this is initial data from the flight recorder.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46208494