Investigation Summary
The flight was a commercial positioning leg intended to collect a client at Elstree for a trip to Yorkshire. Before departure, the client had twice suggested delaying or cancelling the flight due to poor weather, but the pilot chose to proceed. After encountering freezing fog and low cloud at Elstree, the pilot aborted the landing and requested a diversion to Battersea. While holding over the River Thames and awaiting final clearance, the pilot initiated a turn that brought the aircraft into a collision course with a 719-foot construction crane. The crane was subject to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), but it was not in the helicopter's GPS database, which had not been updated since May 2012. Furthermore, the crane's obstacle lights were not active because regulations only required them to be lit at night. The AAIB investigation concluded that the pilot likely lost situational awareness in the cloud and was unaware of his proximity to the tower when he began the fatal turn.
Final Conclusions
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published its final report (AAR 3/2014) on September 9, 2014. The investigation identified two causal factors: the pilot turned onto a collision course with the crane while likely unaware of the building's proximity, and the pilot failed to see the crane in time to take avoiding action. A contributory factor was the pilot's decision to continue the approach to London Heliport despite being unable to remain clear of cloud. An inquest in 2015 also noted that the pilot may have been under commercial pressure to complete the flight.
Video Analysis
Helicopter Crashes into Tower Block Crane | Short Documentary — A documentary overview of the January 2013 Vauxhall helicopter crash, detailing the flight from Elstree and the collision with the St George Wharf Tower crane.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Captain Peter Barnes
Systems & Failure Modes
GPS Navigation
The onboard GPS was used for situational awareness but lacked the most recent obstacle data for the Vauxhall area.
Obstacle Lighting
The crane was equipped with solar-powered red lights, but these were inactive during the daytime crash as per existing regulations.
Interesting Facts
- 01The collision occurred at approximately 682 feet above ground level.
- 02The crane's jib was at a total height of 719 feet from the ground.
- 03The helicopter's GPS database had not been updated since May 2012 and did not include the St George Wharf Tower.
- 04The crane's red warning lights were not switched on because they were only required to be lit at night.
- 05The pilot, Captain Peter Barnes, was a highly experienced pilot with 10,552 flying hours.
- 06One pedestrian, Matthew Wood, was killed on the ground by the falling wreckage.
- 07Nine people on the ground sustained injuries during the accident.
- 08The aircraft (MSN 11017) was manufactured in 1997.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Review of Flight Rules
Source ↗The UK government announced a review of helicopter flight rules over central London, specifically regarding visibility and proximity to tall buildings.
Obstacle Lighting Regulations
Source ↗The investigation led to recommendations for improving the illumination of tall structures and cranes during daylight hours in poor visibility.
AAIB Safety Recommendations
Source ↗The AAIB issued 10 safety recommendations (2014-006 to 2014-015) covering the notification of obstacles, lighting of cranes, and the assessment of risks posed by tall structures to aviation.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Commercial Pressure Allegations
Reference ↗During the 2015 inquest, evidence was presented suggesting the pilot felt 'extreme pressure' to fly despite the weather, though the client had suggested cancelling.