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Crash pilot 'ignored strong wind' | Crash pilot 'ignored strong wind' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A couple died in a helicopter crash in weather conditions more experienced pilots may have avoided, a report said. | A couple died in a helicopter crash in weather conditions more experienced pilots may have avoided, a report said. |
Businessman Paul Spencer, 43, and his wife Linda, 59, of Brighouse, West Yorkshire, died when their aircraft crashed in North Yorkshire in 2008. | Businessman Paul Spencer, 43, and his wife Linda, 59, of Brighouse, West Yorkshire, died when their aircraft crashed in North Yorkshire in 2008. |
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has compiled a report on the crash. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has compiled a report on the crash. |
It said Mr Spencer's "enthusiasm of having just taken delivery" of the aircraft may have overcome any concerns about strong and gusty wind conditions. | |
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded the main contributing factors to the accident were Mr Spencer's "lack of experience and probable inadequacies in his training". | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded the main contributing factors to the accident were Mr Spencer's "lack of experience and probable inadequacies in his training". |
Had his pilot colleagues known that Mr Spencer was intending to fly, "they would have tried to dissuade him from doing so", the AAIB said. | Had his pilot colleagues known that Mr Spencer was intending to fly, "they would have tried to dissuade him from doing so", the AAIB said. |
'Limited experience' | 'Limited experience' |
The report also said Mr Spencer, although experienced in flying fixed-wing aircraft, had only just qualified to fly helicopters. | The report also said Mr Spencer, although experienced in flying fixed-wing aircraft, had only just qualified to fly helicopters. |
The AAIB said its investigation had revealed "inconsistencies, and probably deficiencies" in Mr Spencer's training and his subsequent helicopter private pilot licence skills test. | The AAIB said its investigation had revealed "inconsistencies, and probably deficiencies" in Mr Spencer's training and his subsequent helicopter private pilot licence skills test. |
The Gazelle helicopter crashed near a chalet the couple owned in the grounds of the Rudding Park hotel near Harrogate on the afternoon of 26 January 2008. | |
Mr Spencer had only recently acquired the helicopter | Mr Spencer had only recently acquired the helicopter |
The report said Mr Spencer, a wholesale food entrepreneur, had expected to meet his family when he arrived at the chalet but found they had gone on a shopping trip to nearby Knaresborough. | The report said Mr Spencer, a wholesale food entrepreneur, had expected to meet his family when he arrived at the chalet but found they had gone on a shopping trip to nearby Knaresborough. |
The couple then took off in the Gazelle and circled the area of the shopping centre before flying back towards the hotel grounds. | The couple then took off in the Gazelle and circled the area of the shopping centre before flying back towards the hotel grounds. |
The report said: "From the evidence it appears that the pilot, who had limited helicopter experience, was attempting to operate in weather conditions which more experienced pilots might have chosen to avoid." | The report said: "From the evidence it appears that the pilot, who had limited helicopter experience, was attempting to operate in weather conditions which more experienced pilots might have chosen to avoid." |
The AAIB continued: "It is possible that the enthusiasm of having just taken delivery of the aircraft overcame any concerns about the weather. | The AAIB continued: "It is possible that the enthusiasm of having just taken delivery of the aircraft overcame any concerns about the weather. |
"It is also possible that the same enthusiasm led to the low-level nature of the flight around the shopping centre where family members were believed to be present." | "It is also possible that the same enthusiasm led to the low-level nature of the flight around the shopping centre where family members were believed to be present." |
The AAIB made a number of recommendations, including asking the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to look at helicopter pilot training regulations. | The AAIB made a number of recommendations, including asking the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to look at helicopter pilot training regulations. |
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