Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub

Pretty much what people who were familiar with this type of aircraft, were saying shortly after the accident.

Full report is published for download on the AAIB web site.
https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aircraft-accident-report-aar-3-2015-g-spao-29-november-2013

The full report will be out soon according to the article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-34599367
Interim report;
https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/54897daa40f0b602410002af/S9-2013_G-SPAO_v2.pdf

Basically that is what caused the crash, the fuel was there but not transferring due to the pumps being off resulting in fuel starvation and a double flame out, the switch position that robbed him of his Rad Alt and Landing light at night would make judgement of height very difficult, my feeling is when pulling collective to arrest the descent during the final phase of auto rotation, it stalled the rotors higher than they thought they were and it then dropped out of the air.. But that’s just my guesstimate.

And some things will always remain a mystery since there was no FDR or CVR. Judging from the track shown in the report it looked like they were very close to landing at the heliport. Although there was less than the required reserve fuel at the moment of the accident, there was enough to get to the heliport, but in the wrong place. I have a feeling the investigators are going to have to guess why the pilot didn’t turn the fuel transfer pumps on. Another anomaly is why the rotor (and therefore fenestron) weren’t turning? I have an idea but don’t want to speculate.

Ran out of fuel due to both transfer pumps in the main tank being off, so double flame out, and with the switches in the position he had, no rad alt or Landing light to help him ascertain his height.. still looking into why autorotation etc not a success etc
prelim report out, read it here

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/AAIB%20S2-2014%20G-SPAO.pdf

Very good post Moggie, all except the fact you are missing one major fact…

Preliminary examination showed that all main rotor blades were attached at the time of the impact but that neither the main rotor nor the fenestron tail rotor were rotating

They are I would imagine free turbines, so engine failure wouldn’t stop the rotors.

You would need more extensive tests to be sure it wasn’t engine failure I would have thought.
An engine can stop (not break) for any number of reasons. Electrical, icing, fuel starvation (but not necessarily running out of fuel).
As for auto-rotation at 1000feet would you have time?

No autopsy information yet?

And now the AAIB preliminary.

95 litres of fuel remained on board

No disruption of the engines

Transmission from at least one of them was still intact

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/S9-2013%20G-SPAO%20v2.pdf

It seems to squash a few theories

Moggy

Purely coincidence I am sure, but EASA have just published an EAD on EC135/635 dated today

The fuselage tail boom structure of the EC 135 / EC 635 type design is
connected to the tail rotor “fenestron” housing by means of a ring frame,
attached by two rivet rows each. During a recent post flight check, the pilot
detected a crack which ran along three rivets across the ring frame.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, would gradually reduce the
structural integrity of the tail boom fenestron attachment, potentially resulting, in
the worst case scenario, in detachment of the fenestron and consequent loss of
the helicopter.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
(ECD) issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC135-53A-029 to provide
instructions for inspection.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires repetitive visual inspections
of the ring frame X9227 and, depending on findings, accomplishment of
applicable corrective action(s).

Moggy

So why repeat it here?

Some people really are sick in my opinion…a colleague of mine came up to me the other day and said “Hey, do you know the main thing that has been learnt as a result of the accident in Glasgow?”…I replied with a cautious “No” because judging from the way he said this I already got the sense that what he was going to say next wasn’t going to be nice…and he said “Pigs can fly!”…with the pigs reference being towards the Police.

I was shocked!:mad: :apologetic:

It was after dark and the Helicopter has thermal imaging. It’s vital to confirm a trespasser and find them before a train kills them, hence the helicopter.

Search for Clues Begins in Glasgow Helicopter Crash

“The helicopter reportedly took off from a heliport 2 miles from the crash site and was enroute to look for a trespasser on railroad tracks about a mile away.”

Read more at Flying Mag

They sent a chopper to look for a trespasser on railroad tracks?

Indeed – but there’s no connection to the tragedy in Glasgow, is there…?

Police Caution is that all? I would jail the idiot.
http://news.sky.com/story/1176933/man-arrested-for-shining-laser-at-helicopter

Look at the Riga Supermarket incident, more were killed and injured when more of the roof collapsed onto rescuers.

Eventually the whole lot came down.

Fair comment Charlie, had they dug quicker and the ‘copter landed on the rescuers heads they would have been lambasted for that. A no win situation.