Too Low And Too Fast: Colin McRae helicopter crash was avoidable, Fatal Accident Inquiry says

6 September 2011 Last updated at 06:42 ET 

http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/FAI41.html

An inquiry into the deaths of a rally car champion and three others in a helicopter crash has concluded that it could have been avoided.

Colin McRae's aircraft came down at high speed near to his Lanark home.

The 39-year-old who was piloting the machine died with his son Johnny, five, Ben Porcelli, six, and Graeme Duncan.

Sheriff Nikola Stewart said the 2007 crash could have been avoided had Mr McRae not engaged in low level flying "when it was unnecessary and unsafe".

Mr McRae's friend Mr Duncan, aged 37, filmed most of the outbound and return flights on his personal camcorder.

Just over five minutes of video and sound track were recovered after the crash.

Sheriff Stewart said in conclusion to the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI): "The video recording provides detailed information as to the manner in which Mr McRae piloted G-CBHL that day. 

"He consistently flew the helicopter at unnecessarily low heights. 

"He clearly breached the 500ft minimum separation requirement on at least one occasion when he detoured to fly at 275ft over farm buildings and may well have done so on others. 

"He undertook significant manoeuvring at low level and the helicopter seems to have encountered significant g-loading as a result, to the evident enjoyment of his passengers."

The FAI had found that the helicopter was in "powered flight" at the time of the collision and "attempts were being made by Mr McRae" to recover from an unknown event. 

However, the sportsman's attempts to recover control were unsuccessful because of the "position and speed of the helicopter within Mouse Valley and the resultant restrictions on opportunity to land or fly the helicopter to safety". 

On the day of the crash, 15 September 2007, Mr McRae's son Johnny had his friend Ben around to play.

The inquiry had heard from Karen and Mark Porcelli, the parents of Ben, who said they did not give Mr McRae permission to take their son in the helicopter.

The aircraft came down just 150 yards from the landing strip at the McRae family's home.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report, which was published in February 2009, found no cause could be positively determined into the tragedy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk