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Geese 'caused fatal US air force helicopter crash' in Norfolk coast Geese 'caused fatal US air force helicopter crash' in Norfolk
(35 minutes later)
Four US servicemen were killed when a flock of geese smashed through the windscreen of their military helicopter and caused it to crash into the north Norfolk coast, officials have said.Four US servicemen were killed when a flock of geese smashed through the windscreen of their military helicopter and caused it to crash into the north Norfolk coast, officials have said.
A US air force investigation into the fatal crash in January found that at least three geese penetrated the helicopter's windscreen, knocking unconscious both the pilot and co-pilot.A US air force investigation into the fatal crash in January found that at least three geese penetrated the helicopter's windscreen, knocking unconscious both the pilot and co-pilot.
The rescue aircraft was on a routine to a training exercise near the village of Cley-next-the-Sea on 7 January when it crashed into salt marshes, killing four US servicemen Captain Christopher Stover, Captain Sean Ruane, Technical Sgt Dale Mathews and Staff Sgt Afton Ponce. The rescue aircraft was on a routine to a training exercise near the village of Cley-next-the-Sea on 7 January when it crashed into salt marshes, killing four US servicemen, Capt Christopher Stover, Capt Sean Ruane, Technical Sgt Dale Mathews and Staff Sgt Afton Ponce.
The helicopter, an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter used by US special forces in rescue missions, had flown from RAF Lakenheath to perform low-flying manoeuvres near a nature reserve popular with birdwatchers.The helicopter, an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter used by US special forces in rescue missions, had flown from RAF Lakenheath to perform low-flying manoeuvres near a nature reserve popular with birdwatchers.
Releasing the details of the investigation into the report, the US air force said brigadier general Jon Norman "found clear and convincing evidence that multiple bird strikes caused the mishap by rendering the pilot and co-pilot unconscious and disabling the trim and flight path stabilisation system". Releasing the details of the investigation into the report, the US air force said Brig Gen Jon Norman "found clear and convincing evidence that multiple bird strikes caused the mishap by rendering the pilot and co-pilot unconscious and disabling the trim and flight path stabilisation system".
Investigators said the geese, weighing between six and 12lb, would have struck the aircraft with 53 times the force of a baseball moving at 100mph. Shards of windscreen and bird remains were found 720 feet away from the location of impact, showing the force of the collision. Investigators said the geese, weighing between six and 12lb (2.7-5.4kg), would have struck the aircraft with 53 times the force of a baseball moving at 100mph. Shards of windscreen and bird remains were found 720 feet away from the location of impact, showing the force of the collision.
The helicopter was flying 110ft above ground level at a speed of 110 knots as it performed the nighttime rescue scenario. The helicopter was flying 110ft (34 metres) above ground level at a speed of 110 knots (126mph or 202km/h) as it performed the nighttime rescue scenario.
Startled by the noise of the low-flying aircraft, a flock of geese took flight from Cley marshes in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and struck the helicopter.Startled by the noise of the low-flying aircraft, a flock of geese took flight from Cley marshes in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and struck the helicopter.
Investigators concluded that at least three geese penetrated the windscreen of the helicopter, rendering unconscious the pilot, co-pilot and the aerial gunner who were all wearing night vision goggles. Investigators concluded that at least three geese penetrated the windscreen of the helicopter, rendering unconscious the pilot, co-pilot and the aerial gunner, who were all wearing night vision goggles.
With three of the four crew members unconscious, another goose struck the nose of the helicopter causing an outage in its trim and flight path stabilisation system.With three of the four crew members unconscious, another goose struck the nose of the helicopter causing an outage in its trim and flight path stabilisation system.
Three seconds after being struck by geese, the aircraft's cyclic stick, which controls its pitch and roll, lost control and caused the helicopter to ditch left and slam into the ground.Three seconds after being struck by geese, the aircraft's cyclic stick, which controls its pitch and roll, lost control and caused the helicopter to ditch left and slam into the ground.
All four crew members were killed and the helicopter was destroyed on impact, the US air force said, costing the US government an estimated $40.3m (£23.5m).All four crew members were killed and the helicopter was destroyed on impact, the US air force said, costing the US government an estimated $40.3m (£23.5m).