A former senior officer who helped write rules for RAF accident
inquiries has spoken publicly for the first time about his concerns
over the
cause of a controversial Chinook helicopter crash 14 years
ago.
The RAF
blamed the helicopter pilots for the crash, which killed the
aircrew and 25 VIPs, despite concerns over the reliability of the
helicopter's
engine control software.
But retired air commodore Derek Hine said there was too much
evidence of software problems on the type of Chinook that
crashed to convince him that the pilots were definitely to
blame.
Hine's comments come as the defence secretary Des Browne
considers a lengthy file on the circumstances surrounding the crash
of Chinook ZD576 on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994. The dossier
contains new evidence which campaigners hope will lead to ministers
setting aside the verdict of gross negligence against the pilots,
flight lieutenants Rick Cook and Jonathan Tapper.
Computer Weekly has campaigned for the finding of negligence to
be set aside and published a 140-page report
"How the RAF blamed two dead pilots and covered up problems with
the Chinook computer system Fadec (Full Authority Digital Engine
Control)".
The crash of Chinook ZD576 killed all on board: four aircrew and
25 senior police and intelligence officers. It has been described
as the RAF's worst peacetime accident.
Hine chaired an RAF standing committee in 1982 which established
rules for RAF boards of inquiry into accidents. He wrote a rule
that dead aircrew should be found negligent only if there is
"absolutely no doubt whatsoever".
Now, in his first interview about the crash, Hine has told
Computer Weekly that there is too much uncertainty over its cause
to meet the standard of proof required by the phrase "absolutely no
doubt whatsoever". He said the written verdict of two air marshals
against the dead pilots did not at the time include any discussion
of the phrase.
He said he has "lost faith in the RAF" because of its decision
to find the pilots of ZD576 grossly negligent.
"I cannot believe that the RAF would do that to two pilots. I
did not think that even on balance of probability that they were
negligent," said Hine.
In November 2000, the Public Accounts Committee found that the
RAF's procurement of the software-controlled Fadec for the Chinook
Mk2 was flawed.
It also said, "Faults with the Fadec led to doubts as to the
reliability and safety of the aircraft at the time and make it very
difficult to rule out categorically a technical fault as at least a
contributory cause of ZD-576's crash."
Browne's decision on whether to accept the new evidence and set
aside the verdict against Cook and Tapper is expected in the next
few months.
Chinook crash: lessons for the IT industry >>
RAF Justice report >>
Tony
Collins' IT projects blog >>