On 27 October 2018, a Leonardo AW169 helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Leicester City's King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, while on route to Luton Airport. All people on board—the pilot and four passengers, including club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha—were killed in the crash.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch attributed the crash to a loss of yaw control owing to a failure of the tail rotor control linkage.

History of the flight
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha frequently travelled to and from the stadium in the helicopter for Leicester City's matches, with the Leicester Mercury describing it as "a familiar sight for Foxes fans." On 27 October, the helicopter departed Fairoaks Airport in Surrey with the pilot and his girlfriend on board. It stopped at London Heliport to collect three additional passengers—Srivaddhanaprabha and two members of his staff—before departing at 14:43 BST (13:43 UTC). It arrived at the Leicester City Football Club Training Ground on Belvoir Drive,  south of the King Power Stadium at 15:58 BST (14:58 UTC). All on board disembarked and travelled by car to the stadium for Leicester's game against West Ham United. The pilot and his girlfriend returned after the football match concluded and then, as was usual, flew the helicopter to the stadium to collect Srivaddhanaprabha and his two staff members. The helicopter was seen preparing to lift off from the pitch live on BT Sport, during a post-match broadcast. By this point, the coach carrying the West Ham team had departed, but some Leicester City staff members and players were still in the stadium, while there remained fans of both clubs in areas outside.

The aircraft was due to fly to Luton Airport.

Accident

With Vichai, the pilot and three other people on board, the helicopter took off from within the stadium at approximately 20:37 BST (19:37 UTC). As the pilot turned the helicopter towards its en-route heading, the tail rotor control linkage broke, sending the helicopter into an uncontrollable spin. One witness described the aircraft falling "like a stone to the floor". It struck the ground in stadium Car Park E, about  from the stadium, and burst into flames. Two police officers and two club staff leaving the stadium attempted to rescue those in the helicopter but had to retreat due to the heat and flames. They sustained heat injuries. Investigators ruled out a suggestion of a collision with a police drone as a possible cause.

The following day, Leicestershire Police confirmed that everybody on board had been killed in the crash and subsequent fire, and named the five fatalities. They were three Thais: club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and two members of his staff—Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, British pilot Eric Swaffer, and his Polish girlfriend, Izabela Roza Lechowicz. A small memorial has been erected at East Sheen Cemetery for these two pilots. It was determined that four of the five occupants survived the crash, but with disabling injuries that prevented their escape from the helicopter. They died in the consequent fire.

Two police officers, Michael Hooper and Stephen Quartermain, suffered burns and smoke inhalation attempting to rescue the occupants, and subsequently were nominated for a national police bravery award as well as receiving Queen's Gallantry Medals.

Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Leonardo AW169 helicopter, registration G-VSKP, c/n 69018, manufactured in 2016. It seated 10 people and weighed roughly . It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A engines. The aircraft was owned by Foxborough and operated by Amadeus Aviation. This was the first crash and hull loss involving the AW169.

Investigation
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) opened an investigation into the accident. Italy's Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo, representing the state of the manufacturer of the helicopter, and Canada's Transportation Safety Board, representing the state of the manufacturer of the helicopter's engines, provided assistance. Accredited representatives from Poland's State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation and Thailand's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee also provided assistance. America's National Transportation Safety Board, representing the state of the manufacturer of the tail rotor actuator, and the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile, representing the state of the manufacturer of the tail rotor bearing, also assisted. The aircraft's Digital Flight Data Recorder was recovered on 28 October, having been severely damaged in the fire. It was transported to the AAIB's base at Farnborough, Hampshire, for downloading of its data. The wreckage of the helicopter was transported to Farnborough on 2 November.

A coroner's inquest was convened to investigate the official cause of death for the passengers and crew of the helicopter. The investigation reported in the court revealed that there was minimal opportunity for any individuals who survived the initial crash to escape, or for anyone to help those trapped.

On 7 November, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Airworthiness Directive, demanding checks of the tails of all AgustaWestland AW169  and AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters, as a precautionary measure. On 14 November, the AAIB released a Special Bulletin, outlining the progress of the investigation. A loss of yaw control was revealed as the cause of the aircraft crashing, with the reasons for the loss of yaw control not yet determined. On 30 November, the EASA issued an Emergency Alert Service Bulletin requiring periodic inspection of part of the tail rotor system. This was made mandatory by an Airworthiness Directive issued the same day.

On 6 December 2018, the AAIB published a second Special Bulletin. Investigators revealed that loss of control of the helicopter resulted from the tail rotor actuator control shaft (which controls the pitch of the tail rotor blades) becoming disconnected from the actuator lever mechanism that transmits the pilots' pedal inputs to control the helicopter's yaw. They have also revealed evidence of the normally stationary control shaft being spun by the tail rotor which caused the castellated nut holding the actuator lever in place to friction weld to its carrier, shear off its split pin and rotate off the threaded shaft. The locking nut and pin carrier were found loose in the tail rotor fairing and were bonded together. A duplex bearing that was designed to allow the control shaft to remain stationary (with the rest of the tail rotor assembly rotating around it) was found to only allow a few degrees of rotation, with the races blocked up by a mix of burnt grease and metallic particles. The AAIB published their two volume final report on 6 September 2023. Eight safety recommendations were made.

Responses

Fans began to lay flowers and football shirts outside the stadium the morning after the crash. Shirts and scarves from other teams including West Ham United, Leicester City's opponent in the match prior to the crash, were also seen. On 30 October, Leicester City opened a book of condolence, with an online version also available. Some buildings were floodlit in blue as a tribute to the victims, including England's national stadium, Wembley.

The club's official charity The Foxes Foundation was renamed The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.

On 10 November thousands of Leicester City fans took part in a '5,000-1' walk in remembrance of the victims, before Leicester City played Burnley at home. The initial appeal was for 5,000 fans to take part, though reports suggested the number was about 10,000.

Leicester City established a memorial garden on the site of the crash.

Football 
The 2018–19 FA Women's Championship match between Leicester City and Manchester United, scheduled for the day after the crash, was postponed.
The women's reserve league match against Derby County, Leicester City's EFL Cup fixture against Southampton, which had been scheduled to take place at the King Power Stadium on 30 October, the Premier League International Cup fixture between Leicester City U-23s and Feyenoord Academy and the Belgian First Division B fixture between Oud-Heverlee Leuven, the second club owned by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and Lommel, originally scheduled for 31 October, were all also postponed.

At the other Premier League football fixtures on Sunday, players wore black armbands, both for the crash victims and for Remembrance Day, though a few days earlier than Remembrance armbands are usually worn.

The NFL London series match between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars taking place at Wembley stadium the day after the crash included a pre-game tribute in memory of victims of both the Leicester crash and the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting which occurred on the same day.

Litigation
On 26 October 2021, the families of the pilots launched a legal case at the District Court of Massachusetts in the United States, suing Raytheon for damages. The plaintiffs alleged that Raytheon "negligently designed, manufactured, assembled and sold the Tail Rotor Actuator such that the Accident Aircraft's Tail Rotor Actuator control shaft was subject to disconnection from the actuator lever mechanism".

See also
Matthew Harding – Chelsea F.C. investor killed in a helicopter crash returning from a football match in October 1996.

References

2018 disasters in the United Kingdom
2018 in England
October 2018 events in the United Kingdom
2010s in Leicester
Accidents and incidents involving the AgustaWestland AW169
Aviation accidents and incidents in 2018
Aviation accidents and incidents in England
Sports-related aviation accidents and incidents
Leicester City F.C.
Oud-Heverlee Leuven
Transport in Leicester
2018년 레스터 헬리콥터 추락 사고는 2018년 10월 27일 아구스타웨스틀랜드 AW169 기종의 비차이 소유 헬기가 킹 파워 스타디움 인근에 추락해 레스터 시티의 구단주 위차이 시와타나쁘라파를 포함해 탑승자 5명이 전원 사망한 사고다.

사고 개요 
2018년 10월 27일 G-VSKP기에 기장과 승객 1명이 탑승하고 서리 주에 위치한 페어옥스 공항에서 이륙했다. 런던 헬리포트에 승객 3명(위차이, 직원 2명)을 더 태운채 14:43 BST(13:43 UTC)에 이륙해 벨보어 드라이브에 있는 레스터 시티 훈련장으로 이동해 15:58 BST(14:58 UTC)에 착륙했다. 탑승객들은 모두 내려 차량으로 킹 파워 스타디움까지 이동했다. 10라운드 레스터 시티와 웨스트햄 유나이티드와의 홈 경기가 끝난 뒤 기장과 승객 1명은 경기장을 떠나 헬기로 돌아와 평소대로 시와타나쁘라파와 그의 직원 2명을 태우러 헬기로 경기장까지 이동했다. 헬기가 이륙 준비를 하는 장면이 BT 스포츠 방송에 촬영되기도 하였다. 헬기는 루턴 공항으로 이동할 예정이었다.

사고 발생 

위차이와 기장, 나머지 3명은 헬기에 탑승하여 경기장 안에서 대략 20:37 BST (19:37 UTC)에 이륙하였다. 헬기가 상승하면서 항로상 방향으로 돌리자 기체가 오른쪽으로 기울어지면서 걷잡을 수 없이 회전했다. 결국, 경기장에서 약 200m 떨어진 E주차장에 추락하고, 헬기는 화염에 뒤싸였다. 현장에 경찰관 두 명이 다가가 그 중 한 명이 헬기에 달려가 구조하기 위해 창문을 깨기 위해 노력했지만 화염 때문에 물러날 수 밖에 없었다.

다음 날, 레스터셔 경찰은 공식적으로 헬기에 타고 있던 5명 전원이 추락과 그 이후에 발생한 화재 때문에 사망했다고 밝힘과 더불어 사망자에 이름을 공개했다. 탑승객 5명 중 3명은 태국인으로 레스터 시티의 구단주인 위차이 시와타나쁘라파, 그의 직원 2명 끄위폰 판프래(Kaveporn Punpare), 누사라 숙나마이(Nusara Suknamai)와 영국 국적의 기장인 에릭 스와퍼(Eric Swaffer)와 폴란드 국적의 부기장이자 스와퍼의 여자친구인 이자벨라 로자 레호비치(Izabela Roza Lechowicz)가 사망했다고 밝혔다. "탑승자 외에 다른 사상자는 없었다"라고 덧붙였다.

헬기 정보 
해당 헬기의 기종은 아구스타웨스틀랜드 AW169고 등록기호는 G-VSKP, c/n 69018로 2016년에 만들어졌다. 10인승이며 중량은 약 4,500kg (9,900 lb)다. 프랫트 앤 휘트니 캐나다 PW210A(Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A) 엔진 2개를 사용한다. 소유자는 폭스버러(Foxborough)고, 아마데우스 항공(Amadeus Aviation)이 운항했다.

조사 
영국항공사고조사위원회(AAIB)는 사건에 대해 조사를 착수했다. 사고기 제조사의 나라인 이탈리아의 항공안전위원회(ANSV)와 사고기의 엔진 제조사의 나라인 캐나다의 교통안전위원회(TSB)가 수사를 지원했다. 폴란드항공사고조사위원회(SCAAI)와 태국항공사고조사위원회(AAIC)의 관계자들도 파견됐다. 10월 28일, 화재로 심각하게 손상된 디지털 비행기록장치가 발견됐고, 기록장치에 담겨있는 데이터를 추출하기 위해 햄프셔주 판버러에 위치한 AAIB 본부로 운송되었다. 11월 2일, 헬기의 잔해도 판버러로 운송되었다.

사고 헬기의 승객과 승무원의 사망 원인을 조사하기 위해 검시 법정이 만들어졌다. 11월 7일, 유럽항공안전청(EASA)는 감항성 개선지시(Airworthiness Directive) 2018-0241-E를 공표했고, 모든 아구스타웨스틀랜드 AW169와 아구스타웨스틀랜드 AW189 기종인 헬기의 꼬리에 대해 검사를 통지했다. 11월 14일, 조사 진행 과정을 요약한 보고서를 공개했고, 요잉(Yawing) 제어력 상실이 추락의 원인으로 밝혀졌고, 요잉 제어력 상실의 원인은 아직 밝혀지지 않았고, 꼬리회전날개(tail rotor)에 중점을 맞추고 수사하고 있다. 11월 30일, EASA는 꼬리회전날개 일부에 대해 주기 점검을 통지하기 위한 비상경보정비를 회보했다.

2018년 12월 6일, AAIB는 2차 사고진행 보고서(Special Bulletin)를 공개했다. 조사관은 꼬리회전날개의 제어축이 작동레버장치(actuator lever mechanism)와 분리되어 조종실의 페달이 작동하지 않은 것이 요잉 제어력 상실의 원인이라고 밝혔다. 꼬리회전날개의 잠금너트와 핀 캐리어도 느슨해진 상태로 발견됐다.

반응 및 여파 

서포터들은 다음날 아침에 경기장 밖에 꽃과 유니폼을 놓으면서 추모했다. 사고 전 레스터 시티의 상대팀인 웨스트햄 유니폼도 눈에 띄였다. 10월 30일, 레스터 시티는 조문록을 비치했고, 온라인으로도 작성할 수 있게 했다.

11월 10일 토요일, 레스터 시티 팬들은 '5000-1' 추모걷기축제 참여해 헬기 추락 사고의 희생자들을 기렸다.

축구계 
2018-19 FA 여자 챔피언십 레스터 시티와 맨체스터 시티 경기는 희생자에 대한 추모를 위해 연기되었다. 사고 이후, 리그 경기 시작 전 희생자들을 기리기 위해 묵념의 시간을 가졌고, 선수들 모두 검은 완장을 찼다.

각주 

2018년 잉글랜드
2018년 항공 사고
잉글랜드에서 일어난 항공 사고
스포츠 관련 항공 사고
레스터의 역사
레스터의 교통
레스터 시티 FC
OH 뢰번
2018년 10월