Pilot to blame for Clutha helicopter tragedy, inquiry finds

A fatal accident inquiry into the Clutha helicoper tragedy has found the crash was caused by the pilot's failure to ensure the fuel pumps were on.

Seven months after the inquiry began Sheriff Principal Craig Turnball's released his findings.

He has determined the cause was the engines flaming out as a result of fuel starvation and Captain David Traill's inability to perform an emergency landing.

The Sheriff Principal's also found if Captain Trail had followed the procedure set down in the Pilot’s Checklist and the helicopter's manufactures had made their warning system clearer, the crash could have been avoided.

The report also says there was no defect in any system of work and no aspect of the training of pilots contributed to the accident.

The pilot, two crew members and seven customers in the Clutha bar in Glasgow were all killed when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed on to the roof of the building on November 29 2013. A further 31 people in the pub were injured.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) took place before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull in a temporary court at Hampden in Glasgow between April and August this year.

More than 100 people were at the pub when the helicopter crashed as it was returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde.

One eyewitness who gave evidence at the FAI told how the helicopter made a spluttering noise'' before it fell from the sky while another said it sounded like a car stalling.

An Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit.

Those who were in the helicopter were pilot David Traill, 51, Pc Tony Collins, 43, and Pc Kirsty Nelis, 36.

The seven customers who were killed were Gary Arthur, 48, Joe Cusker, 59, Colin Gibson, 33, Robert Jenkins, 61, John McGarrigle, 58, Samuel McGhee, 56, and Mark O'Prey, 44.

BALPA Head of Flight Safety, Dr Rob Hunter, said: “This was a tragic accident. The Fatal Accident Inquiry has done a thorough job and it is clear that lessons must be learnt to address failings in people, machines and organisations, as is always the case following air accidents. That is how the industry continues to improve safety."

ACC Williams said “We note the Sheriff Principal’s determination and are studying its contents.

"The thoughts of everyone at Police Scotland remain with the families and friends of all those, including our three colleagues, who lost their lives in the tragic accident almost six years ago."

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