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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Structural failure' blamed for Ely helicopter crash | 'Structural failure' blamed for Ely helicopter crash |
| (7 days later) | |
| A structural failure caused a helicopter to crash, killing the pilot, an investigation has found. | A structural failure caused a helicopter to crash, killing the pilot, an investigation has found. |
| Wreckage was spread across 500m (1640ft) when the aircraft came down in fields at Witchford, near Ely, in Cambridgeshire, in January 2012. | Wreckage was spread across 500m (1640ft) when the aircraft came down in fields at Witchford, near Ely, in Cambridgeshire, in January 2012. |
| Robert Crofts-Bolster, 50, was killed when the two-seater hit the ground. | Robert Crofts-Bolster, 50, was killed when the two-seater hit the ground. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found there was a rotor blade fault that caused them to strike the craft and separate. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found there was a rotor blade fault that caused them to strike the craft and separate. |
| Mr Crofts-Bolster was an experienced pilot with nearly 5,000 flying hours and was both a flight instructor and examiner. | Mr Crofts-Bolster was an experienced pilot with nearly 5,000 flying hours and was both a flight instructor and examiner. |
| 'Roll left' | 'Roll left' |
| The AAIB inquiry discovered that he had an undiagnosed condition which could cause symptoms including palpitations, tremors and headaches. | The AAIB inquiry discovered that he had an undiagnosed condition which could cause symptoms including palpitations, tremors and headaches. |
| It said although it was unlikely Mr Crofts-Bolster had suffered an "acute episode", it could not discount it. | It said although it was unlikely Mr Crofts-Bolster had suffered an "acute episode", it could not discount it. |
| The investigation also raised the possibility that the pilot, who held a private licence, may have moved the helicopter suddenly to avoid birds. | The investigation also raised the possibility that the pilot, who held a private licence, may have moved the helicopter suddenly to avoid birds. |
| The pilot did not refer to any problems while flying the Robinson R22 in good weather on a route from Manston Airport in Kent to Fenland Airfield, near Spalding in Lincolnshire. | The pilot did not refer to any problems while flying the Robinson R22 in good weather on a route from Manston Airport in Kent to Fenland Airfield, near Spalding in Lincolnshire. |
| A witness who saw the helicopter fly over his farm thought it had started to perform "some aerobatics because it suddenly began to roll left". | A witness who saw the helicopter fly over his farm thought it had started to perform "some aerobatics because it suddenly began to roll left". |
| Another witness heard a "pop" like a paper bag being banged and both people saw objects "separate from the helicopter" before it fell to ground. | Another witness heard a "pop" like a paper bag being banged and both people saw objects "separate from the helicopter" before it fell to ground. |
| Note: We changed this story on 15th February 2013 to reflect the fact that the accident was caused by structural rather than mechanical failure. |