Investigators reveal cause of Leicester City helicopter crash

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed after the helicopter came down close to the King Power stadium on 27 October.

 

The helicopter crash which killed the chairman of Leicester City and four other people was caused by a pin that had come loose in the tail rotor control mechanism, a report has revealed.

 

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that the pin had become disconnected, resulting in the helicopter becoming unstable and preventing the pilot from controlling it.

 

Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two of his staff Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and Mr Swaffer's girlfriend Izabela Roza Lechowicz were killed when the aircraft crashed into a car park close to the King Power stadium on 27 October.

 

Full story: https://news.sky.com/story/investigators-reveal-cause-of-leicester-city-helicopter-crash-11573217

 

-- sky news 2018-12-07

The report:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c090ab1e5274a0b64c8a2f4/S2-2018_G-VSKP.pdf

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by evadgib

Leicester City helicopter crash investigators say tail rotor controls failed

 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - November 3, 2018 General view of the screen showing the victims of the Leicester helicopter crash which included chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha before the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British air accident investigators looking into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Leicester City soccer club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha said on Thursday that the failure of the tail rotor mechanism had caused the pilot to lose control.

 

Thai businessman Vichai, 60, was killed on October 27 along with four others when the helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium in the central English city of Leicester after a Premier League match.

 

Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch said in a "Special Bulletin" on Thursday that the cockpit pedals had become disconnected from the tail rotor.

 

"The evidence gathered to date shows that the loss of control of the helicopter resulted from the tail rotor actuator control shaft becoming disconnected from the actuator lever mechanism," the report said.

 

The aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 430 feet before veering to the right and plummeting to the ground just outside the stadium.

 

The helicopter's manufacturer has already issued a safety alert to all owners of the AW169 and the European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a directive mandating repetitive inspections of the tail rotor control mechanism.

 

The investigation continues into other factors that may have contributed to the crash, the report concluded.

 

Pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner and co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz as well as two members of Vichai's staff, Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, were also killed in the crash.

 

Vichai bought the unheralded central England side in 2010 and went on to stun the football world by beating odds of 5,000/1 to win the Premier League title in 2016.

 

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-07

Seems he's not doing too much water walking now-a-days. 

4 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Seems he's not doing too much water walking now-a-days. 

 

Seems not. Unless you subscribe to one of the nonsensical religions that blather on about eternal life. Personally I don't. And I don't mourn Vichai either, not a bit. Many people do good things and then die before their time; they merit mourning.

 

Vichai wasn't one of them.

 

 

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by HalfLight

1 hour ago, HalfLight said:

Odd, the people in Leicester seem to think Vichai was a saint, yet most people I've spoken to in Thailand think he was corrupt (for which there appears to be evidence), and otherwise, a pretty magnificent all-around gobshite.

 

All goes to show, I suppose, that many people (especially those with an IQ like my garden wall), say wonderful things about people who do things they like, however trivial and nonsensical they are...

 

Same as Thaksin, apparently all you need to do in England nowadays is buy a football club and take large amounts of money off one of the the football tribes and you can suddenly walk on water.

 

Never under-estimate the ability of people to be dopey I suppose.

 

 

 

 

I am thinking Leicester fans do have reason to have liked him as he bought a failing team and put a lot of money into it and brought them a big win. In Thailand, I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about him or shall I say worse than any other rich person in Thailand. One of my employees used to work for him and holds him in high regard.

Give respect to five people who have lost their lives. All have mourning relatives left behind, they will be feeling it at this time and it’s for them we should consider and show empathy. 

46 minutes ago, kamahele said:

I am thinking Leicester fans do have reason to have liked him as he bought a failing team and put a lot of money into it and brought them a big win. In Thailand, I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about him or shall I say worse than any other rich person in Thailand. One of my employees used to work for him and holds him in high regard.

 

Yep, a football team. Vide my comment about my garden wall.

 

If you haven't heard anyone badmouthing Vichai, then good luck. I have. Your employee regarded him so highly that he stopped working for him? OK if you say so. Not sure how relevant it is though.

 

 

23 minutes ago, Tradewind777 said:

Give respect to five people who have lost their lives. All have mourning relatives left behind, they will be feeling it at this time and it’s for them we should consider and show empathy. 

 

Why? If you knew the family then fair enough I suppose. Otherwise, the global population is about 7.5 billion people, and 150,000 of those die every day. How many families deserve my/your/our consideration and empathy? Where does one draw a line? Where is the limit?

 

Sorry friend, this is the real world where numbers rule and self-image is unimportant.

Except for the report link, little comment about the actual crash but a few morbid wise cracks. Maybe you should worry more about the failure, in case you have loved ones flying around in similar machines?

16 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

Report out today. The fault was apparently in the pedal mechanism, but a commentary the day after the crash contained a description of how a decent pilot would have been able to land the chopper even if the tail prop failed completely, which it evidently didn't. Apparently, this involved feathering the main rotor which would take the power away from the main rotor to create the torque which the tail rotor is there to negate. Hence, land as a gyro from what very little I know about it.

 

Conclusion: pilot training problem - anyone know the nationality of the pilot?

'This resulted in the aircraft making an uncontrollable right turn before it spun and crashed, according to a special bulletin by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The report revealed that a system linking the pilot's pedals with the tail rotor failed.

An inspection at the crash site found parts of a mechanism had become disconnected and there was a "build-up of black grease" on one component.

The failure of the system led to the pitch of the tail rotor blades being changed "until they reached the physical limit of their travel", investigators noted.'

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/06/leicester-city-owner-helicopter-crash-tail-rotor-pilot-pedals/

 

So the above states it was uncontrollable, understand that? ps the pilot was British with a Polish partner. They were in the hover so no auto rotation.

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by sandrabbit
quotes

11 minutes ago, sandrabbit said:

'This resulted in the aircraft making an uncontrollable right turn before it spun and crashed, according to a special bulletin by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The report revealed that a system linking the pilot's pedals with the tail rotor failed.

An inspection at the crash site found parts of a mechanism had become disconnected and there was a "build-up of black grease" on one component.

The failure of the system led to the pitch of the tail rotor blades being changed "until they reached the physical limit of their travel", investigators noted.'

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/06/leicester-city-owner-helicopter-crash-tail-rotor-pilot-pedals/

 

So the above states it was uncontrollable, understand that? ps the pilot was British with a Polish partner. They were in the hover so no auto rotation.

 

 

Yes, I do understand that, but the opinion of the pilot interviewed the day after the crash differs. It stated that a total failure of control over the tail rotor should have been manageable by feathering the main rotor. One assumes you've written to tell him that he was wrong?

 

Thanks for the info about the nationality, I didn't know that and you'll understand why I asked, no doubt. I'm still curious to know if a pre-flight check included checking control over the tail rotor; I'd be amazed if it wasn't, but I'm sure you'll have a good reason to tell me I'm wrong about that too. Even if I'm right about that too.

 

 

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by HalfLight

Thailand news?

10 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

 

 

Yes, I do understand that, but the opinion of the pilot interviewed the day after the crash differs. It stated that a total failure of control over the tail rotor should have been manageable by feathering the main rotor. One assumes you've written to tell him that he was wrong?

 

Thanks for the info about the nationality, I didn't know that and you'll understand why I asked, no doubt. I'm still curious to know if a pre-flight check included checking control over the tail rotor; I'd be amazed if it wasn't, but I'm sure you'll have a good reason to tell me I'm wrong about that too. Even if I'm right about that too.

 

 

please give a link to this supposed pilot saying he could have saved it same as a lot of BA pilots said they could have saved concorde, after watching the video I don't think the pilot flying  had any options really and just used the cyclic to try and avoid casualties but as they didn't have any energy there wasn't a lot he could do. continuous yaw turns into roll same as continuous roll turns into yaw. all he could do was shut down the collective to try to stop the spin. 

I'm no helicopter expert, but how can 5 people fly in these contraptions when all their lives rest on the success of a pin in the tail rotor not shearing?

26 minutes ago, HalfLight said:

 

 

Yes, I do understand that, but the opinion of the pilot interviewed the day after the crash differs. It stated that a total failure of control over the tail rotor should have been manageable by feathering the main rotor. One assumes you've written to tell him that he was wrong?

 

Thanks for the info about the nationality, I didn't know that and you'll understand why I asked, no doubt. I'm still curious to know if a pre-flight check included checking control over the tail rotor; I'd be amazed if it wasn't, but I'm sure you'll have a good reason to tell me I'm wrong about that too. Even if I'm right about that too.

 

 

tail rotor failure, higher altitude with horizontal speed. remember seeing this as a child on the news, look how quick it goes from being controllable to something out of control.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, MJKT2014 said:

I'm no helicopter expert, but how can 5 people fly in these contraptions when all their lives rest on the success of a pin in the tail rotor not shearing?

 

Agreed. You wouldn't catch me in one of those things. I'm pretty sure the tail rotor control system should have been checked pre-flight though and according to the report, a build up of grease suggests it hadn't been checked for some time.

2 minutes ago, sandrabbit said:

tail rotor failure, higher altitude with horizontal speed. remember seeing this as a child on the news, look how quick it goes from being controllable to something out of control.

 

 

 

The sensitivity of some people is zero.

15 minutes ago, nauseus said:

The sensitivity of some people is zero.

sorry, but this is from the public domain and I only posted it because halflight listened to an expert on the BBC. it was never meant as something to feed anybodies fantasies etc, there are a lot of videos in the public domain where people die in accidents.

A callous joke post and a reply has been removed. 

 

Some other bickering posts and replies have been removed. 

The recovery from loss of tail rotor control depends on your altitude and speed. In the UK, even private helicopter pilots are taught about the height-velocity curve. The h-v diagram displays the heights and velocities you should not fly at as recovery within the prohibited zones is almost impossible.

 

Twin engine helicopters can mitigate this risk somewhat, as it is unlikely that both engines will fail simultaneously. There are single points of failure even in twin engined helicopters, however, such as the gearbox or tail rotor.

 

It appears that the helicopter in the OP was under 500 feet when the loss of tail rotor control occured. If the helicopter was somewhat higher, and out of danger from the h-v curve, then the normal course of action would be to cut engine power and autorotate to a forced landing.

 

Unfortunately, if the helicopter was in danger from the h-v curve then autorotating would not work due to insufficient altitude and/or speed.

 

The only possible recovery in this situation would be to gain altitude while the helicopter was rapidly spinning out of control, until you are out if the h-v danger zone then cut engine power and autorotate to a forced landing.

 

This scenario is so dangerous it is not part of the required instruction necessary to gain a helicopter pilot's licence in the UK, or anywhere else. Instead pilots practice numerous autorotations, as statistically tail rotor failures are most uncommon.

I'm an Engineer on this type of helicopter.

The parts that failed are not visible or accessible during a pre flight inspection.

8 minutes ago, Pond Life said:

I'm an Engineer on this type of helicopter.

The parts that failed are not visible or accessible during a pre flight inspection.

 

Just out of curiosity, what are the chances it was deliberate sabotage? 

 

Obviously, I'm not asking about the numerical odds, just the feasibility that someone could have tampered with that component of the craft.

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by impulse

12 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Just out of curiosity, what are the chances it was deliberate sabotage? 

 

Obviously, I'm not asking about the numerical odds, just the feasibility that someone could have tampered with that component of the craft.

Extremely unlikely.

The whole failure seems to have started from a seized bearing, which is a sealed unit in an inaccessible location.

7 hours ago, Tradewind777 said:

Give respect to five people who have lost their lives. All have mourning relatives left behind, they will be feeling it at this time and it’s for them we should consider and show empathy. 

you  have  to  earn  it and  dying does  not  make  it  compulsory.

11 hours ago, HalfLight said:

Odd, the people in Leicester seem to think Vichai was a saint, yet most people I've spoken to in Thailand think he was corrupt (for which there appears to be evidence), and otherwise, a pretty magnificent all-around gobshite.

 

All goes to show, I suppose, that many people (especially those with an IQ like my garden wall), say wonderful things about people who do things they like, however trivial and nonsensical they are...

 

Same as Thaksin, apparently all you need to do in England nowadays is buy a football club and take large amounts of money off one of the the football tribes and you can suddenly walk on water.

 

Never under-estimate the ability of people to be dopey I suppose.

 

Given his family name was royally granted, and his 7 day funeral was royally sponsored, and very well attended, I think it's pretty obvious that the man had many fans in Thailand as well as abroad.

Certainly nobody I know had a bad word to say about him - they usually mention that he was a shrewd and successful businessman - he was. There's no crime in that. Who are these people that you are speaking to?

As for the "evidence" - care to share it? The only legal action linked to him that I am aware of was a civil action against King Power taken by an ex "corruption buster" in a personal capacity, and that civil action was dismissed by a court in September, and the individual that filed the case didn't bother to file an appeal within the necessary 30 day timeframe despite saying he "might". https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/20/thai-court-dismisses-corruption-case-leicester-city-owner-king-power

Vichai's relationship with Leicester City was worlds apart from Thaksin and Man City. 8 years vs 1 year. Much loved and ever-present vs actively disliked. To conflate the two is dopey, frankly.

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by rwdrwdrwd

15 hours ago, HalfLight said:

Odd, the people in Leicester seem to think Vichai was a saint, yet most people I've spoken to in Thailand think he was corrupt (for which there appears to be evidence), and otherwise, a pretty magnificent all-around gobshite.

 

All goes to show, I suppose, that many people (especially those with an IQ like my garden wall), say wonderful things about people who do things they like, however trivial and nonsensical they are...

 

Same as Thaksin, apparently all you need to do in England nowadays is buy a football club and take large amounts of money off one of the the football tribes and you can suddenly walk on water.

 

Never under-estimate the ability of people to be dopey I suppose.

 

 

 

 

Success often brings out jealousy in people, calling him a 'gobshite' is uncalled for, in fact he was very quiet and mildly spoken. He certainly showed the world the best of Thailand, he was modest, kind, loyal and compassionate. It was not until after he died that it became widely know how extensive his charity work was, in the UK and Thailand. Millions to the local Hospital in Leics might be trivial and nonsensical to you but I can assure you it was not to the Hospital on Welford Road. He was a great human being, that's why he is missed so much, it may seem 'dopey' to you though.

10 hours ago, MJKT2014 said:

I'm no helicopter expert, but how can 5 people fly in these contraptions when all their lives rest on the success of a pin in the tail rotor not shearing?

The same reason that 50 people can travel in a bus when all their lives rest on the success of a nut behind the wheel not sleeping.

Success often brings out jealousy in people, calling him a 'gobshite' is uncalled for, in fact he was very quiet and mildly spoken. He certainly showed the world the best of Thailand, he was modest, kind, loyal and compassionate. It was not until after he died that it became widely know how extensive his charity work was, in the UK and Thailand. Millions to the local Hospital in Leics might be trivial and nonsensical to you but I can assure you it was not to the Hospital on Welford Road. He was a great human being, that's why he is missed so much, it may seem 'dopey' to you though.

Yeah, the use of the word 'gobshite' was totally uncalled for, unless the poster that used it has some evidence that he actually was.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

12 hours ago, sandrabbit said:

11 hours ago, HalfLight said:

Report out today. The fault was apparently in the pedal mechanism, but a commentary the day after the crash contained a description of how a decent pilot would have been able to land the chopper even if the tail prop failed completely, which it evidently didn't. Apparently, this involved feathering the main rotor which would take the power away from the main rotor to create the torque which the tail rotor is there to negate. Hence, land as a gyro from what very little I know about it.

 

Conclusion: pilot training problem - anyone know the nationality of the pilot?

This is complete nonsense. For a pilot to land a helicopter without  power, a procedure known as auto-rotation landing , both the main rotor and the tail rotor must be connected and functioning. Otherwise the toque induced by the main rotor would continue to spin the aircraft. And if a pilot was to feather the main rotor, which I don't think is possible whilst the aircraft is in flight, the aircraft would loose all lift and drop like a stone.

 

Conclusion: Mechanical failure causing loose of the tail rotor, inducing a spin that the pilot could not control. A conclusion I came to the moment I saw the video the day after the accident.

Edited December 8, 20187 yr by Moonlover