2014 Haughey Air AgustaWestland AW139 crash
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Owner | Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond |
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On the evening of 13 March 2014, a Haughey Air-operated AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter crashed shortly after departing from Gillingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom, under foggy and nighttime conditions, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals aboard. Among those lost was Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond.
The investigation that followed determined that the pilots likely experienced somatogravic illusion caused by the absence of external visual references, which led to the helicopter being inadvertently flown into the terrain instead of ascending.
Accident
At approximately 19:26 UTC, the helicopter crashed soon after lifting off from Gillingham Hall, located in Gillingham, Norfolk,[1] en route to Rostrevor, County Down,[2] with a scheduled stop at Coventry Airport.[3] Witnesses reported that the aircraft descended at an angle near 45°, suffering extensive damage to its front section.[4] The crash site corresponds to Ordnance Survey Grid Reference Template:Gbmappingsmall.[2] Weather at the time was characterized by fog.[1] All four occupants—comprising two crew members and two passengers—perished.[2] Lord Ballyedmond was among the passengers.[1] Recovery operations removed the victims' bodies from the wreckage on the afternoon of 14 March.[2]
The Norfolk Constabulary requested investigative support from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.[5] Additionally, Norbrook Laboratories, owned by Lord Ballyedmond, cooperated with authorities during their inquiries.[1] On 14 March, control of the crash site was formally transferred to investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). Norfolk police confirmed there was no indication of suspicious activity related to the incident.[6] On 15 March, investigators began dismantling components such as rotor blades and removed the tail section in preparation for wreckage transport.[7] The fuselage was loaded onto a transport vehicle and taken to AAIB headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire on 16 March.[8] The AAIB team received assistance from personnel representing the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy. Following the crash, several roads surrounding the accident location were closed by police; all closures were lifted by 09:25 on 17 March.[9]
Aircraft
The helicopter involved in the incident was an AgustaWestland AW139, bearing the manufacturer's serial number 31421 and registered in the United Kingdom as G-LBAL. This aircraft was manufactured in Italy in 2012 and subsequently registered to Haughey Air on 18 September 2012. Haughey Air was owned by Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond, and this AW139 was the only model acquired by his company from AgustaWestland. In September 2013, Lord Ballyedmond initiated legal action against AgustaWestland due to concerns regarding oil leaks, rotor blade defects, and issues with the helicopter’s communication and navigation equipment.
Investigation
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) launched an inquiry into the crash, with AgustaWestland providing support during the investigation. The aircraft’s flight data recorders were retrieved from the wreckage on 15 March 2014. A Special Bulletin issued by the AAIB on 4 April indicated that no mechanical malfunction had occurred and confirmed that the helicopter did not collide with any objects between departure and the crash location. Although the final accident report was initially expected around March 2015, it was ultimately published on 8 October 2015. The investigation concluded that no mechanical faults were present; however, it was noted that the flight crew failed to utilize checklists during operation. The accident's cause was determined to be pilot error, with spatial disorientation caused by somatogravic illusion playing a significant role.
An inquest into the fatalities of the four individuals commenced on 20 March at Norwich Coroner's Court. After establishing that all victims succumbed to head and chest trauma from the crash, the hearing was adjourned until 24 July. The inquests reached their conclusion in January 2016, delivering verdicts of accidental death for all four victims. During proceedings, the Coroner requested access to Cockpit Voice Recorder transcripts from the AAIB, resulting in two fines of £100 each being imposed on the AAIB’s Chief Inspector of Accidents for non-compliance. This dispute was escalated to the High Court, which ruled that only it held authority to mandate such evidence disclosure, leading to the fines being revoked.
References
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External links
Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2014 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United Kingdom since 2000