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| Pilot criticised over Puma crash | Pilot criticised over Puma crash |
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| Three men killed in an RAF Puma crash in Yorkshire in 2007 died because the pilot was attempting manoeuvres beyond his capabilities, a coroner has ruled. | Three men killed in an RAF Puma crash in Yorkshire in 2007 died because the pilot was attempting manoeuvres beyond his capabilities, a coroner has ruled. |
| Pilot Flt Lt David Sale and crewman Sgt Phillip Burfoot, 27, of Cardiff - both from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire - died in the crash near Catterick Garrison. | Pilot Flt Lt David Sale and crewman Sgt Phillip Burfoot, 27, of Cardiff - both from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire - died in the crash near Catterick Garrison. |
| Pte Sean Tait, 17, of Glasgow, died in hospital two days later, on 10 August. | Pte Sean Tait, 17, of Glasgow, died in hospital two days later, on 10 August. |
| Recording a narrative verdict, the coroner criticised the administration of RAF Benson where the men were based. | Recording a narrative verdict, the coroner criticised the administration of RAF Benson where the men were based. |
| 'Inexperienced' crew | 'Inexperienced' crew |
| Coroner Geoff Fell said the administration "left much to be desired", adding: "Against a background of deteriorating administration, airmanship and discipline, the helicopter crashed." | Coroner Geoff Fell said the administration "left much to be desired", adding: "Against a background of deteriorating administration, airmanship and discipline, the helicopter crashed." |
| The crash happened during a training exercise to familiarise service personnel with the use of helicopters in combat situations. | The crash happened during a training exercise to familiarise service personnel with the use of helicopters in combat situations. |
| Errors found in Puma death crash' | Errors found in Puma death crash' |
| The final flight of the day involved "rookie" soldiers who had missed out on earlier exercises due to illness and it was considered a boost to their morale as well as an opportunity to improve skills. | The final flight of the day involved "rookie" soldiers who had missed out on earlier exercises due to illness and it was considered a boost to their morale as well as an opportunity to improve skills. |
| The inquest at Harrogate Magistrates' Court heard how a taxi driver stopped in the road as the helicopter flew low overhead. | The inquest at Harrogate Magistrates' Court heard how a taxi driver stopped in the road as the helicopter flew low overhead. |
| Mr Fell said: "He stopped the car. He was eyeballing the pilot and described the helicopter 5ft above his car." | Mr Fell said: "He stopped the car. He was eyeballing the pilot and described the helicopter 5ft above his car." |
| The coroner, who described the taxi driver's evidence as "compelling", also played extracts of the last two hours of the cockpit voice recording of the aircraft in which the pilot could be heard swearing. | The coroner, who described the taxi driver's evidence as "compelling", also played extracts of the last two hours of the cockpit voice recording of the aircraft in which the pilot could be heard swearing. |
| Analysis By Caroline Wyatt, BBC defence correspondent This incident has again raised serious questions about the Puma force. The head of the joint helicopter command, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, insists the crash was not due to a systemic problem, but a catastrophic lapse of judgement on the part of the crew. He conducted a review of the three previous Puma crashes last May, which concluded there was no linking factor between them. However, there is little doubt that the reputation of the Puma force - and indeed the wider RAF - will suffer as a result of the state of affairs in that squadron that was revealed at the inquest. Some former pilots believe the crash may also be symptomatic of a wider diminution of training and experience within the RAF - partly as a result of operational pressures in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as cuts to staffing levels over the past few years. | Analysis By Caroline Wyatt, BBC defence correspondent This incident has again raised serious questions about the Puma force. The head of the joint helicopter command, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, insists the crash was not due to a systemic problem, but a catastrophic lapse of judgement on the part of the crew. He conducted a review of the three previous Puma crashes last May, which concluded there was no linking factor between them. However, there is little doubt that the reputation of the Puma force - and indeed the wider RAF - will suffer as a result of the state of affairs in that squadron that was revealed at the inquest. Some former pilots believe the crash may also be symptomatic of a wider diminution of training and experience within the RAF - partly as a result of operational pressures in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as cuts to staffing levels over the past few years. |
| Flt Lt Sale, 28, of Norton in Teesside, could be heard to say "let's scare the shit out of this taxi". | Flt Lt Sale, 28, of Norton in Teesside, could be heard to say "let's scare the shit out of this taxi". |
| The inquest also heard that the Johnny Cash song Ring Of Fire was being played over the cockpit speaker. | The inquest also heard that the Johnny Cash song Ring Of Fire was being played over the cockpit speaker. |
| Mr Fell said that crew members in the Puma helicopter on the day of the crash were "inexperienced" and were undertaking their first trip without an instructor watching them. | Mr Fell said that crew members in the Puma helicopter on the day of the crash were "inexperienced" and were undertaking their first trip without an instructor watching them. |
| He added that nobody seemed to have laid out ground rules to the crew, and Flt Lt Sale missed an opportunity to remind himself of what he was authorised to do during the flight. | He added that nobody seemed to have laid out ground rules to the crew, and Flt Lt Sale missed an opportunity to remind himself of what he was authorised to do during the flight. |
| The coroner said most of the flying on the day "seems to have taken place at less than 100ft" and added the tactical manoeuvres were "excessive in number and irregularity". | The coroner said most of the flying on the day "seems to have taken place at less than 100ft" and added the tactical manoeuvres were "excessive in number and irregularity". |
| He said the crew was "oblivious" at times and there was a deterioration in discipline. | He said the crew was "oblivious" at times and there was a deterioration in discipline. |
| Mr Fell said: "One can see that while some of the factors individually might not lead to a hazardous situation, collectively they are almost certainly leading to a mishap." | Mr Fell said: "One can see that while some of the factors individually might not lead to a hazardous situation, collectively they are almost certainly leading to a mishap." |
| In a statement read at at the inquest, the families of the three men killed paid tribute to them. | In a statement read at at the inquest, the families of the three men killed paid tribute to them. |
| Pte Tait's family said: "All his family are still devastated at his untimely death and early death. | Pte Tait's family said: "All his family are still devastated at his untimely death and early death. |
| Andrew Carter: "The attitude was very negative" | Andrew Carter: "The attitude was very negative" |
| "We feel it is not an accident having listened to all the evidence of the last three weeks and we hope that lessons have been learned." | "We feel it is not an accident having listened to all the evidence of the last three weeks and we hope that lessons have been learned." |
| Sgt Burfoot's family paid tribute to the "bravery" of the ministry personnel who rushed to the aid of the dead and injured following the crash. | Sgt Burfoot's family paid tribute to the "bravery" of the ministry personnel who rushed to the aid of the dead and injured following the crash. |
| The family of Flt Lt Sale said he had "loved his job" and was "determined to be very professional at it". | The family of Flt Lt Sale said he had "loved his job" and was "determined to be very professional at it". |
| Speaking outside the court, Gp Capt Jonathan Burr, Station Commander at RAF Benson, said there had been changes to to the way administration procedures were carried out. | Speaking outside the court, Gp Capt Jonathan Burr, Station Commander at RAF Benson, said there had been changes to to the way administration procedures were carried out. |
| He said: "The verdict will reinforce action we have already taken. | He said: "The verdict will reinforce action we have already taken. |
| "We have changed the way we supervise, manage and task our Puma operations, both at home and overseas, to ensure that such events are not repeated as far as is humanly possible." | "We have changed the way we supervise, manage and task our Puma operations, both at home and overseas, to ensure that such events are not repeated as far as is humanly possible." |
| Gp Cpt Burr said the RAF would now continue its own internal investigations and said the Armed Forces "seek to learn and strive for perfection". | Gp Cpt Burr said the RAF would now continue its own internal investigations and said the Armed Forces "seek to learn and strive for perfection". |