Investigation Confirms Irrecoverable Tail Rotor Failure in 2018 Helicopter Crash Tragedy

Investigation Confirms Irrecoverable Tail Rotor Failure in 2018 Helicopter Crash Tragedy

Investigation Confirms Irrecoverable Tail Rotor Failure in 2018 Helicopter Crash Tragedy(Image-Getty)

 The British aviation accident investigator has released a report stating that it was impossible for the pilot to recover from a tail rotor failure in the 2018 helicopter crash that tragically claimed the life of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the former owner of the Leicester City soccer club. The crash occurred on October 27, 2018, shortly after takeoff from the King Power Stadium in Leicester following a Premier League match. The accident also claimed the lives of the pilot, Eric Swaffer, his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, and two members of Vichai's staff, Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported that the helicopter experienced uncontrollable yawing and rapid descent at a low altitude near buildings at night after the tail rotor failed. The tail rotor plays a critical role in counteracting the torque generated by the helicopter's main rotor to maintain control.

The AAIB's final report concluded, "The investigation found that, in the prevailing circumstances, the loss of yaw control was irrecoverable."

Despite the dire situation, the pilot managed to execute a soft landing, allowing four out of the five individuals on board to survive the initial impact. Unfortunately, they were unable to escape the helicopter due to their injuries, and the subsequent fire claimed their lives.

The report also highlighted that the helicopter had tilted to its left side during the crash, damaging its fuel tanks, leading to a significant fuel leak that quickly ignited. Police officers arrived at the scene promptly but were unable to breach the helicopter's windscreen with their equipment as the aircraft was engulfed in flames, resulting in the fatalities.

The investigation revealed that issues with the bearing in the tail rotor of the Leonardo AW169 helicopter initiated a chain of failures leading to the crash. Leonardo, the Italian aerospace company that manufactures the helicopter, has since issued 16 service bulletins for the model, including additional inspection requirements. Leonardo emphasized that the AW169 remains safe to fly, with more than 150 of these helicopters operating worldwide without grounding or airworthiness restrictions since the accident.

Litigation specialists representing the families of the victims noted that the report indicated the pilot could not have prevented the crash. Legal action has already begun in Italy against Leonardo on behalf of some of the victims' families, and Vichai's family is also considering legal recourse.

The report included recommendations to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for changes to certification requirements and assessments to mitigate potential catastrophic failures. EASA had previously published nine airworthiness directives for Leonardo's AW169 and AW189 models in response to the crash.