5 KILLED IN CHOPPER HORROR
AHELICOPTER crashed into the side of a mountain after it entered cloud while descending, an official report into the fatal accident has concluded.
Five members of the same family died when the chopper struck Rhinog Fawr, near Trawsfynydd.
The report said the pilot did not turn away from the rising ground and probably did not regain sight of the surface before impact at about noon on March 29 last year.
Milton Keynes-based construction millionaire Kevin Burke, 56, and his brothers Barry, 51, and Donald, 55, died in the crash. Kevin’s wife Ruth, 49, and Donald’s wife Sharon, 48, were also killed.
The family had been travelling to Dublin to attend a family Confirmation and planned to return the same day.
The helicopter was reported missing when it failed to arrive in Ireland, sparking a massive search which initially focused on the Irish Sea.
The wreckage was found in a remote and treacherous area, with recovery of the bodies and helicopter taking several days.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch report said they were flying on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) plan.
This required it to be clear of cloud and in sight of the surface.
“The weather on departure was suitable for VFR but, as forecast, deteriorated markedly in the area of Snowdonia with low cloud and rain,” it said.
“The helicopter flew over a witness 4.3 miles southwest of the accident site before disappearing into the cloud.
“Shortly afterwards it struck the east face of Rhinog Fawr.”
Pilot Kevin Burke had more than 3,500 flying hours and had renewed his licence in 2016.
A post-mortem examination of the pilot detected a small amount of alcohol that may have been produced after death.
The investigation did not identify any engineering defects and records showed the aircraft had been properly maintained.
Evidence found at the accident site showed the helicopter struck a rock outcrop at high speed.
Data recovered from a tablet computer showed the aircraft had kept to its planned track for much of the flight.
A weather information app had been accessed several times during the flight.
The report concluded: “The weather was a significant factor. If unable to maintain VFR the pilot had the option to turn back, divert or land.
“The helicopter was seen to enter cloud when at an altitude of approximately 2,500ft heading towards Rhinog Fawr which has a summit of 2,360 feet.
“There appears to have been no attempt to turn back.”
An inquest into the deaths will resume in the next few weeks.