A year on and Clutha helicopter crash still a mystery

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it expects to publish the final report into the Clutha helicopter crash in the middle of next year, with a draft version likely to be circulated among key stakeholders early next year.

Ten people were killed, including seven inside the pub, when the Eurocopter EC135 police helicopter plunged through the roof of the Clutha Vaults on the night of November 29, 2013 as it returned from a routine callout.

In a statement yesterday, issued to coincide with the anniversary, the AAIB said the lack of a black box had complicated the investigation, with analysts relying on data stored on the on-board software to shed light on events leading up to the crash.

By 2017, all European operators flying models such as the EC135 will be required to fit them with flight data recorders and cockpit audio recording systems - but there was no legal requirement for black boxes at the time of the Clutha crash.

The statement said: "Significant work was required to extract and analyse the contents of non-volatile memory from micro-chipped equipment known to record data. This, together with further examination of the aircraft and subsequent tests, has now been completed, to the extent that the investigation team may reach its conclusions.

"Several weeks are still required to complete the draft final report and it is expected that this draft will be circulated to 'interested parties', as defined by the regulations, for comment early in 2015. The final report is expected to be published in the middle of 2015."

The case has been described as a "head-scratcher" by aviation experts, with investigators tasked with explaining why the helicopters two engines flamed out moments before the crash when there was still 76kg of fuel in the tanks. An interim report in February noted that investigators found that vital fuel flow switches, which control the transfer of fuel to the engines, had been turned off. While the AAIB offered no comment on the anomaly, aviation experts said this pointed to pilot error as the switches are located in the cockpit and could only be turned off manually.

Yet the error seemed unlikely for someone as experienced as Captain David Traill, a former RAF pilot and instructor who had accumulated 646 flying hours on the EC135. There was also no mayday prior to the crash and apparently no attempt at an emergency landing, factors which have puzzled investigators.

Lawyers acting for those bereaved and injured in the tragedy urged investigators to publish their findings as soon as possible.

Elaine Russell, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "The one thing they remain desperate for, which we simply cannot provide, is answers regarding what went wrong to lead to this terrible tragedy."

As well as Captain Traill, police constables Kirsty Nelis and Tony Collins, who were on board the ill-fated helicopter when it came down, died. The pub-goers who died were John McGarrigle, Mark O'Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins and Samuel McGhee.

A memorial service will be held today at Glasgow Cathedral. Police Scotland has also asked members of the public to join them in a minute's silence at 10.22pm tonight in memory of the victims. Police officers will face firefighters in a commemorative charity ice hockey match at Braehead Arena.

Meanwhile, a benefit gig for The Clutha Trust was attended by hundreds of people at the Barrowland last night, with performers including Sandi Thom, Carly Connor, the Mickey 9s and Scheme. Ska band Bombskare was also on the line-up, along with Girobabies and Horse.

Scott McCafferty, of Bombskare, is a friend of members of Esperanza, who were playing in the Clutha last year. He said: "The concert is a great idea to raise money for the Clutha Trust which is, hopefully, going to do a lot of good for young musicians.

"It's important to remember those who were lost. It's very hard to try and make sense of something that's as tragic as that."