Pilot could do 'very little' to stop Leicester helicopter crash

Image source, Getty Images/Facebook/Instagram

(L-R): Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Kaveporn Punpare, Nusara Suknamai, Izabela Roza Lechowicz and Eric Swaffer were killed in the crash

The pilot of the helicopter that crashed outside Leicester City's stadium said "I've no idea what's going on" as it spun out of control, killing five people including its chairman.

Eric Swaffer, 53, made the comment before the aircraft crashed outside the King Power Stadium on 27 October 2018.

The final report into the crash concluded be could have done "very little" to save those on board.

A lawyer for three of the victims said it "was an accident waiting to happen".

The crash claimed the lives of Leicester City chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff - Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare - and pilots and partners Mr Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)'s final report said a tail rotor bearing seized, which in turn caused the crash.

The AAIB said the crash was "inevitable" after a sequence of mechanical failures.

Chief inspector of air accidents at the AAIB, Crispin Orr, said Mr Swaffer did what he could to control the Leonardo AW169 helicopter, but the catastrophic failure in a bearing in the tail rotor resulted in the aircraft making a sharp right turn.

As the helicopter - which had reached an altitude of about 430ft (131m) - was turning out of control, a shout of "hey, hey, hey" came from the rear cabin, where Mr Vichai and his employees were seated, the AAIB said.

In aircraft voice recordings, Mr Swaffer was heard to say: "I've no idea what's going on", shortly before the helicopter crashed into a concrete step.

Inspectors said four of the passengers survived the impact of the crash, but a fire that was caused by a "significant" fuel leak, proved fatal.

AAIB animation on what caused the Leicester City helicopter crash

Four first responders were treated for injuries caused by the heat of the fire after they attempted to rescue those inside the helicopter.

The report added two police officers who arrived at the scene one minute after the crash tried to smash the helicopter's windscreen with their batons, but failed.

Mr Orr said: "This was a tragic accident in which five people sadly lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their loved ones, and everyone affected."

Image source, Reuters

Tributes were left outside the stadium in the immediate aftermath of the crash

Authorities from Canada, France, Italy and the US were also involved in the investigation because of where various significant components were manufactured.

The investigation discovered a worn bearing on the tail rotor had seized after the helicopter took off.

The shaft that controlled the tail rotor then unscrewed and became detached as a result, which in turn caused the helicopter to spin out of the pilot's control.

The AAIB report stated the helicopter complied with "all applicable airworthiness requirements" and had been maintained correctly before the crash.

Image source, Pete White

The AW169 helicopter crashed shortly after this photograph was taken

The wear on the rotor bearing was also found to have built up over a period of time and could not have been predicted, according to the inspectors.

Examination of the bearing was only required once it had been used for 400 hours, but the helicopter had only been flown for 331 hours when the crash occurred.

One of the "contributory factors" was that regulations do not require maintenance checks to review the condition of used bearings against their original design, the AAIB said.

Drone involvement and pilot error were ruled out.

The AAIB has made eight safety recommendations to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a result of its investigation to "address weaknesses or omissions" in regulations for certifying large helicopters.

Mr Swaffer was in an "aviation love story" with Ms Lechowicz, a friend said

The crash occurred just over an hour after a Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United.

It sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes across the UK and abroad, with Leicester's players travelling to Thailand for Mr Vichai's funeral.

A statue of Mr Vichai was unveiled at the club in 2022, with the former chairman replaced by his son Khun Aiyawatt "Top" Srivaddhanaprabha.

Image source, Leicester City

An inauguration ceremony was held for the statue

Three of the victims - Mr Vichai, Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz - are being represented by law firm Stewarts.

In a statement released by the firm, Mr Vichai's son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha - who took over as club chairman - said: "My father trusted that he had bought a safe helicopter from a world-renowned manufacturer. Had he known what we know now he would never have risked his life in this machine.

"The pain this causes me and my family is immeasurable and as a family we continue to struggle every day with our grief at the loss of my father. He was a great inspiration to me personally and we all loved him very much."

Litigation has already begun in Italy against helicopter manufacturer Leonardo on behalf of Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz's families, Stewarts said.

Peter Neenan, a partner in the company's aviation team, said the crash "was an accident waiting to happen".

A Leonardo spokesperson said the company extended its "sincere sympathies and deepest condolences" to those affected.

"The AAIB final report rightly concludes that Leonardo complied with all regulatory requirements in both the design and manufacture of the AW169," the spokesperson said.

"The final report also recognises that Leonardo's immediate actions after the accident, such as the implementation of additional safety checks, which were later adopted by EASA as mandatory special bulletins, have ensured that the global fleet of AW169s have continued to operate safely."

Ms Lechowicz's sister Kate said Mr Swaffer and her sister had been excited at the prospect of meeting their nephew - her son - who was born the day after their funeral.

"Nothing fills the hole they leave; my only consolation is that even now they fly high together," she said.

Mr Swaffer's mother Deborah Sutton said: "This, of course, is every mother's worst nightmare and time is not healing. Eric and Izabela were an inseparable couple, devoted to each other and to their flying."

Leicester City chief executive Susan Whelan said the club commended "the extensive and detailed body of work undertaken" by the AAIB, and hoped it would "contribute positively to the continued development of future aviation standards and safety".

"The tragic events of 27 October, 2018, will forever be etched into the memory of the Leicester City family. It was a night we experienced the devastating loss of our beloved chairman, friends, colleagues, and family members," she said.

"Yet, in our grief, a sense of unity and strength was forged. The extraordinary support and kindness that was extended to those affected, by communities across Leicestershire, football and the wider world will never be forgotten."