Clutha crash pilot ‘took a chance’ over fuel warnings
Ten people were killed when a helicopter crashed into the cluth a bar in Glasgow because the pilot “took a chance” and ignored low fuel warnings, a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has determined.
All three people aboard the Police Scotland aircraft died along with seven customers in the city centre bar when it hit the roof on 29 November 2013.
A FAI concluded the crash happened after the helicopter’s engines “flamed out sequentially” as a result of fuel starvation due to contents of the supply tank becoming depleted.
In a stark conclusion to his determination, Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull wrote: “The central question for the inquiry is why did that happen?
“The answer is a simple one. Captain [David] Traill ignored the low fuel warnings he received.
“Had he followed the procedure set down in the pilot’s checklist in respect of the low fuel 1 and/or low fuel 2 warnings, the accident would not have happened.
“Put another way, Captain Traill
took a chance that the low fuel warnings he received were erroneous.
“That was a conscious decision on his part. It was a decision that had fatal consequences for ten people.”
Sheriff Principal Turnbull said the crash was caused by pilot Captain Traill’s failure to ensure at least one of the fuel transfer pump switches was set to on.
He said it could have been prevented if the pilot had followed emergency procedures relating to low fuel warnings.
The inquiry had heard that five low fuel warnings were acknowledged during the final flight of the helicopter, registration G-SPAO.
Mr Turnbull said that by not carrying out the actions set out in the pilot’s checklist, Captain Traill “consciously took a risk in proceeding on the basis that the low fuel warnings were in some way erroneous”, with fatal consequences.
He said another factor which could have averted the crash would have been helicopter manufacturer Airbus including a warning in the fuel contents indication system “and associated aural attentiongetter which activated where both fuel transfer pumps had been switched off ”.
On the issue of why both fuel transfer pumps were switched off, he said: “Regrettably, when switching off the second [ie the aft] fuel transfer pump, Captain Traill appears to have overlooked the fact that he had previously switched off the forward fuel transfer pump approximately 11 minutes earlier.”
The report found both fuel transfer pump switches were
Sheriff Principal in the off position when the low fuel warnings were triggered.
It said that had one or both of them been switched back on by Captain Traill at that point in time, the helicopter would not have crashed – however they were left off.
Sheriff Principal Turnbull said there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest Captain Traill deliberately caused the helicopter to crash, and that there was evidence to suggest he “made a valiant attempt to land G-SPAO after both engines had flamed out”.
Sheriff Principal Turnbull concluded it is “more likely than not that the quantities of fuel displayed on the fuel quantity indication system of G-SPAO contradicted the low fuel warnings, in a manner that persuaded Captain Traill that it was safe to continue flying”.
The pilot and two crew members in the helicopter, Constable Tony Collins, 43, and Constable Kirsty Nelis, 36, were killed along with seven customers in the Clutha bar.
They were Gary Arthur, 48, Joe Cusker, 59, Colin Gibson, 33, Robert Jenkins, 61,
John Mcgarrigle, 58, Samuel Mcghee, 56, and Mark O’prey, 44.
More than 100 people were at the pub when the helicopter crashed as it was returning to its base about one mile further west down the River Clyde.
A UK Department for Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch 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.
Sheriff Principal Turnbull praised the relatives and friends of those who died, and those who were injured.
He said: “The events of 29 November 2013 changed forever the lives of many people.
“A number of them were presentthroughoutmanydays of evidence in this inquiry. The dignity with which they did so is admirable.”
A spokesman for Airbus Helicopters, which manufactured the aircraft, said: “We would like to express once again our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.
“Throughout both the AAIB investigation and the subsequent FAI, Airbus Helicopters has fully supported the investigatory and legal processes by providing detailed technical information, in-depth analysis, and the presence of our personnel as required.”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “This was an exceptionally complex and challenging investigation and the Crown acknowledges that the time taken from the tragedy occurring to convening the inquiry was longer than desirable and that this compounded the distress suffered by bereaved relatives.
“The terms of the Sheriff Principal’s determination are presently under consideration.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Mark 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.”
“Captain Traill took a chance the low fuel warnings were erroneous. That was a conscious decision. It was a decision that had fatal consequences”
CRAIG TURNBULL