No evidence chopper’s fuel was contaminated
Power checks held day before crash showed engine systems were normal
NO FUEL was found in one of the tanks on the doomed EC 135 helicopter involved in the Clutha disaster, the fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of 10 people heard yesterday. And tests carried out by specialist investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch as the helicopter remained suspended above the Clutha Bar in Glasgow found no contamination of fuel in the other tanks. The AAIB report into the tragedy said the aircraft had come to rest on the pub at an angle of 45 degrees.
The probe heard how both prime pump switches in the cockpit panel were in the “on” position.
But earlier evidence heard how pipes feeding the two supply fuel tanks from the main fuel tank had been switched off as the aircraft made its way from Dalkeith back to Glasgow on the night of the crash.
The AAIB report said: “The main tank produced approx 95 litres (76 kilos) while approx 0.5 litres (0.4 kilos) was extracted from the No1 supply tank drain. No measurable amount was recovered from the No2 supply tank drain.”
Robert Vickery, 56, a senior inspector of air accidents (engineering), said samples of the fuel were taken from the aircraft in situ on December 2, 2013.
The probe heard how stringent tests were carried out on the fuel and the tanks to assess for any evidence of contamination but none was found.
Asked by Crown QC Sean Smith if any fuel was tested from No2 supply tank, Vickery said: “No, the quantity that we had was too little to do a proper analysis.”
The AAIB investigation said low fuel warnings on the aircraft would have come on as the helicopter approached Bothwell.
Smith said: “Estimating the approximate time the low fuel warnings must have come on in the supply tanks, did you calculate that from working back from the time of the crash...?”
Vickery said: “Yes, but we must be clear, not the time of the crash, but the time of the engines burning out.
“The low fuel warnings were calculated to have been activated as the helicopter approached Bothwell.” The inquiry also heard how the aircraft’s engines had undergone two routine “cold compressor washes” in the weeks before the tragedy.
Also in November, the No1 engine injector manifold was changed.
Just a day before the crash – on November 28 – an engine power assurance check was carried out and all was found to be normal.
The inquiry, at Glasgow Sheriff Court, sitting at Hampden Park, continues.