2014 Haughey Air AgustaWestland AW139 crash

Aircraft crash in 2014 August 2014 April 2026 2014 Haughey Air AgustaWestland AW139 crash ELWOOD H.L.S. ( HELIPORT) BARRASFORD - geograph.org.uk - 1587640.jpg 1.1 An AgustaWestland AW139 similar to the accident aircraft Accident 2014 03 13 y Pilot error, spatial disorientation Gillingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom 52 28 40 N 1 32 38 E type:event inline,title AgustaWestland AW139 Haughey Air G-LBAL Gillingham, Norfolk Coventry Airport Rostrevor, County Down, United Kingdom 4 2 2 4 0 On 13 March 2014, an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter of Haughey Air crashed shortly after taking off at night in fog from Gillingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom, killing all four people on board. Among the victims was Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond. The subsequent investigation concluded that the flight crew may have been subject to somatogravic illusion due to the lack of external visual cues, inducing them to manoeuvre the aircraft into the ground instead of climbing away. Accident The aircraft crashed at about 19:26 hrs UTC, shortly after taking off from Gillingham Hall, Gillingham, Norfolk, for Rostrevor, County Down, via Coventry Airport. An eyewitness to the accident stated that the helicopter came down at a 45° angle. The front of the aircraft was severely damaged in the crash.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/update_eyewitness_tells_how_he_saw_the_gillingham_helicopter_come_down_at_unusual_45_degree_angle_1_3433504 Update: Eyewitness tells how he saw the Gillingham helicopter come down at "unusual 45-degree angle". David Lennard Eastern Daily Press Archant 14 March 2014 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091709/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/update_eyewitness_tells_how_he_saw_the_gillingham_helicopter_come_down_at_unusual_45_degree_angle_1_3433504 dead The location was at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference TM407925. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were foggy. All four people on board were killed; both crew and both passengers.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26573899 Norfolk crash: Lord Ballyedmond raised concerns over helicopter BBC News 14 March 2014 Lord Ballyedmond was one of the passengers. The bodies of the victims were removed from the wreckage during the afternoon of 14 March. The Norfolk Constabulary asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland for assistance with their investigations into the accident.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26573904 NI peer Lord Ballyedmond among Norfolk helicopter crash dead BBC News 14 March 2014 Norbrook Laboratories, owned by Lord Ballyedmond, was also assisting the police with their enquiries. The site was formally handed over to Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigators on 14 March. The Norfolk police stated that they were satisfied that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the accident.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/photo_update_images_show_extent_of_damage_in_gillingham_helicopter_tragedy_as_search_for_answers_continues_1_3436676 Photo update: Images show extent of damage in Gillingham helicopter tragedy as search for answers continues Kathryn Bradley Eastern Daily Press Archant 15 March 2014 15 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140315185522/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/photo_update_images_show_extent_of_damage_in_gillingham_helicopter_tragedy_as_search_for_answers_continues_1_3436676 dead On 15 March, investigators dismantled the remains of the rotor blades and removed the tail of the aircraft in preparation for the removal of the wreck.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26592307 Norfolk crash helicopter's wreckage being removed BBC News 16 March 2014 The fuselage of the helicopter was loaded onto a lorry that day. It was taken to the AAIBs headquarters at Farnborough, Hampshire on 16 March.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/photo_and_video_update_candles_lit_and_a_prayer_said_for_gillingham_helicopter_crash_victims_1_3441404 Photo and video update: Candles lit and a prayer said for Gillingham helicopter crash victims Kathryn Bradley Eastern Daily Press Archant 16 March 2014 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402174326/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/photo_and_video_update_candles_lit_and_a_prayer_said_for_gillingham_helicopter_crash_victims_1_3441404 dead The AAIBs field investigators were assisted by personnel from the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Following the accident, the police closed a number of roads around the crash site. The last road closure was lifted at 09:25 on 17 March.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/all_roads_now_open_following_gillingham_helicopter_crash_1_3446891 All roads now open following Gillingham helicopter crash Louisa Lay Eastern Daily Press Archant 17 March 2014 19 March 2014 24 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924005331/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/all_roads_now_open_following_gillingham_helicopter_crash_1_3446891 dead Aircraft The accident aircraft was an AgustaWestland AW139,http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/update_roads_closed_as_investigations_continue_into_norfolk_helicopter_crash_in_which_four_people_including_lord_ballyedmond_were_killed_1_3431382 Update: Roads closed as investigations continue into Norfolk helicopter crash in which four people, including Lord Ballyedmond, were killed Eastern Daily Press Archant Mark Shields 14 March 2014 14 March 2014 https://archive.today/20140314082421/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/update_roads_closed_as_investigations_continue_into_norfolk_helicopter_crash_in_which_four_people_including_lord_ballyedmond_were_killed_1_3431382 dead msn 31421, registration G-LBAL. The aircraft was built in Italy in 2012 and registered in the United Kingdom to Haughey Air on 18 September 2012.https://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=LBAL G-LBAL United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority 14 March 2014 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093009/https://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=LBAL dead Haughey Air was owned by Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond. It was the sole aircraft purchased from AgustaWestland by Haughey Air. Lord Ballyedmond had initiated legal proceedings in September 2013 against AgustaWestland over safety concerns relating to oil leaks and rotor blade issues, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/10697792/Lord-Ballyedmond-millionaire-killed-in-Norfolk-helicopter-crash-was-suing-manufacturer-over-safety-issues.html The Daily Telegraph 15 March 2014 14 March 2014 Lord Ballyedmond: millionaire killed in Norfolk helicopter crash was suing manufacturer over safety issues James Edgar as well as problems with the aircraft's communication and navigation systems. Investigation The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) opened an investigation into the accident. AgustaWestland assisted the AAIB in their enquiries. The aircraft's data recorders were recovered from the wreckage on 15 March 2014. A Special Bulletin published by the AAIB on 4 April revealed that there had been no mechanical failure with the helicopter and that it had not contacted any object between taking off and the crash site.http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/S3-2014%20G-LBAL.pdf AAIB Bulletin S3/2014 SPECIAL Air Accidents Investigation Branch 4 April 2014 The final report into the accident was originally scheduled to be published around March 2015. It was published on 8 October 2015. The investigation found that there was no mechanical failure with the aircraft. The crew were found not to have used checklists when operating the helicopter. The cause of the accident was pilot error, with spatial disorientation due to somatogravic illusion a major factor.https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/56162ac0e5274a625100000f/Agusta_Westland_AW139_G-LBAL_10-15.pdf AAIB Bulletin 10/15: G-LBAL EW/C2014/03/02 Air Accidents Investigation Branch 8 October 2015 9 October 2015 An inquest into the deaths of the four victims was opened on 20 March at Norwich Coroner's Court. After hearing that all four people died from head and chest injuries sustained in the accident, the inquest was adjourned until 24 July.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/inquests_open_into_deaths_of_four_men_killed_in_gillingham_helicopter_crash_1_3458651 Inquests open into deaths of four men killed in Gillingham helicopter crash Catherine Morris-Gretton Eastern Daily Press Archant 20 March 2014 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135314/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/inquests_open_into_deaths_of_four_men_killed_in_gillingham_helicopter_crash_1_3458651 dead The inquests concluded in January 2016, with verdicts of accidental death being returned against all four victims.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/gillingham_inquest_helicopter_crash_ruled_accidental_1_4381546 Gillingham inquest: Helicopter crash ruled accidental Ben Kendall Eastern Daily Press Archant 15 January 2016 7 November 2016 7 November 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161107221951/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/gillingham_inquest_helicopter_crash_ruled_accidental_1_4381546 dead During the inquest, the Coroner demanded that the AAIB release to her the recordings from the Cockpit Voice Recorder, imposing two fines of £100 each on the Chief Inspector of Accidents at the AAIB. The matter was referred to the High Court, where it was stated that only the High Court had the power to demand such disclosure of evidence. The fines were overturned.http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/voice_recordings_from_fatal_gillingham_helicopter_crash_will_remain_confidential_1_4715597 https://web.archive.org/web/20160930001434/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/voice_recordings_from_fatal_gillingham_helicopter_crash_will_remain_confidential_1_4715597 dead 30 September 2016 Voice recordings from fatal Gillingham helicopter crash will remain confidential Eastern Daily Press Archant 29 September 2016 7 November 2016 References External links 6wiLmX1bQY8 Video of the crashed helicopter Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2014 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Norfolk Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the AgustaWestland AW139 Category:2014 disasters in the United Kingdom Category:2014 in England Category:2010s in Norfolk Category:South Norfolk Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving fog Category:March 2014 in the United Kingdom