Inspector explains Leicester Metropolis helicopter crash inquiry delays

An inspector who investigated the deadly helicopter crash outdoors Leicester Metropolis’s stadium in 2018 mentioned delays from the Covid pandemic was one issue that led to a remaining report being printed virtually 5 years later.

The inquest, which started on 13 January, is trying into the deaths of Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, pilot Eric Swaffer and his companion Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

Mark Jarvis, principal inspector for the Air Accidents Investigation Department (AAIB), has been giving proof to the inquest at Leicester Metropolis Corridor on Monday.

He mentioned delays ensuing from the pandemic – in addition to suggestions from the AAIB’s Italian counterparts – had been main elements within the remaining report’s publication being closely delayed.

Mr Jarvis beforehand informed the inquest his conclusions of how the tail rotor duplex bearing failed and induced the helicopter to enter an uncontrolled spin on 27 October 2018.

On Monday, Mr Jarvis talked the jury by way of the assorted security suggestions given to the European Union Aviation Security Company (EASA), made by the AAIB in its remaining report, printed in September 2023.

He additionally gave a timeline of the ultimate report’s creation.

The AAIB supplied preliminary findings within the type of particular bulletins to the broader aviation group quickly after the crash, Mr Jarvis mentioned.

In late 2020, a brand new design of the duplex bearing was launched, he added.

Mr Jarvis informed the inquest the AAIB carried out 17 exams of duplex bearings between late 2018 and December 2020, six of which lasted between 44 and 54 days.

Mr Jarvis defined the pandemic induced “important delays” of the transportation of parts wanted for investigations.

He informed the inquest that employees throughout Europe weren’t out there and laboratories had been closed.

“We had been delayed by way of how shortly we may get outcomes,” Mr Jarvis mentioned.

The primary draft of the AAIB’s remaining report was shared to all involved events in November 2020.

Mr Jarvis mentioned the department was supplied with new proof throughout the session course of that “required us to undergo new evaluation”.

He mentioned the physique deliberate to publish its remaining report in September 2021, however needed to give its counterparts in different international locations the possibility to precise any disagreement with the findings.

The ANSV, the Italian air accidents investigation authority, responded to the report with “new and important data”, Mr Jarvis informed the jury.

He mentioned new exams and evaluation had been then carried out by the AAIB, which concerned “an enormous quantity” of further work.

One other remaining draft was produced in March 2023, which the ANSV responded to by letter, elevating different prospects for the bearing seizure.

The ultimate AAIB report was printed in September 2023, discovering the crash was “inevitable” after a sequence of mechanical failures, and mentioned the pilot may have finished “little or no” to save lots of everybody on board.

The ANSV’s letter was included within the remaining report.

It didn’t dispute that the seizure did trigger the accident, nor did it dispute that the pilot was not at fault, Mr Jarvis added.

“It’s the longest investigation I’ve been concerned in,” Mr Jarvis added.

Matteo Ragazzi, technical director at Leonardo, the helicopter’s producer, additionally gave proof on Monday.

He answered questions on the manufacturing course of and mentioned the corporate had issued 22 service bulletins to operators as investigations into the crash went on to make sure the security of its fleet.

The inquest heard Leonardo had been compliant with all security laws on the time of the crash.

The inquest started on 13 January in entrance of a jury, who will decide who the deceased had been – and when, the place and the way they died.

Final week, the jury heard from a number of eyewitnesses of the crash, together with membership employees, two law enforcement officials and different emergency service personnel.

Proof has additionally been given by inspectors from the AAIB.

The crash occurred shortly after Leicester Metropolis’s 1-1 residence draw with West Ham United, when the Leonardo AW169 helicopter took off from the pitch at 20:37 BST.

It reached an altitude of about 430ft (131m) earlier than spinning uncontrolled and crashing outdoors the stadium.

Sgt Michael Hooper and PC Stephen Quartermain occurred to be driving close by, having simply been launched from obligation.

They had been the primary emergency service employees on the scene, the place the helicopter had come to relaxation on its aspect.

This meant neither aspect doorways could possibly be accessed, the jury heard, prompting Sgt Hooper to attempt to smash the windscreen along with his baton, however it might have required specialist gear to interrupt the glass.

The inquest heard a hearth brought on by a “important” gas leak started to unfold, inflicting what the officers described as “insufferable” warmth.

Each officers mentioned they heard the pilot, Mr Swaffer, shouting for assist from contained in the plane after it had crashed.

4 of those that died within the crash might have survived if the plane had not caught fireplace, the pathologist who examined the victims informed the jury on Wednesday.

Dr Michael Biggs mentioned Ms Lechowicz died from accidents sustained within the the crash, whereas the opposite 4 survived the preliminary influence however would have died “fairly quickly” from smoke inhalation from the hearth that broke out.

The inquest continues.