Final hours of tragic King Power helicopter detailed in report
The last hours of the helicopter that crashed killing Leicester city owner and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people have been revealed.
In a Special Bulletin, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) details the lead up to the tragedy that happened in the car park of King Power station on the evening of 27 October.
The Bullet reports that the helicopter took off on its first flight of the day from Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, at 1.40pm on Saturday 27 October. The pilot and one passenger were on board.
At 2.04pm the helicopter landed at London Heliport (Battersea) where three additional passengers boarded. The helicopter then lifted off from Battersea at 2.14pm and flew to the Belvoir Drive Training Ground, Leicester, landing at 2.59pm.
The Bulletin reads: “The helicopter was shut down at the training ground and all persons on board went to the King Power Stadium, Leicester. The pilot and one passenger returned to the training
ground at 6.37pm and at 6.44pm the helicopter lifted off, with two persons on board, for the short flight to the King Power Stadium, one mile to the north.”
The approach to the King Power Stadium was made from a southerly direction. After landing, the helicopter parked on the centre circle of the pitch, and was shut down at 6.47pm. The pilot and passenger left the helicopter.
Between 7pm and 7.30pm the pilot and four passengers boarded the helicopter for a flight to London Stansted Airport. The helicopter started up at 7.34pm and at 7.37pm it lifted from the centre circle, tilted left and moved forward a few metres.
The Bulletin then says the helicopter began a climb on a rearward flight path while maintaining a northerly heading. It adds: “Gear retraction started as it passed through a height of approximately 320 ft. The climb then paused. Heading changes consistent with the direction of pedal movements were recorded initially, then the helicopter entered an increasing right yaw contrary to the pilot’s left pedal command. The helicopter reached a radio height of approximately 430 ft before descending with a high rotation rate.”
The report says the helicopter struck the ground in “an approximately upright position” on a stepped concrete surface, with the landing gear retracted, and rolled onto its left side.
It adds: “The helicopter was rapidly engulfed in an intense post-impact fire. Stadium staff and emergency services were quickly at the scene but were not able to gain access to the helicopter because of the intensity of the fire.”
The AAIB says the cause of loss of control over the helicopter is yet to be decided, but that the investigation of the tail rotor control system is being carried out “as a priority”.
