§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the senior Royal Air Force reviewing officers overturned the findings of the president of the RAF board of inquiry investigating the Chinook helicopter accident on the Mull of Kintyre; and what were their justifications for doing so. [HL3573]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Under the rules of procedure for boards of inquiry, the higher authority is responsible for convening the inquiry and reviewing its findings. In the case of the Chinook accident on the Mull of Kintyre, the Convening Officer and his Air Officer Commanding in Chief (the reviewing officers) reluctantly concluded that the pilots had continued to fly their aircraft towards the Mull below safety altitude in unsuitable weather and in direct contravention of both visual and instrument flight rules. In allowing their aircraft to do this, the pilots had not exercised the skill, care or judgment they were known to possess. Consequently, the conclusion was that the pilots were grossly negligent.
§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Squadron Leader R Burke was not allowed to give evidence to the Royal Air Force board of inquiry, the Air Accidents Investigation Board and the Scottish Sheriff's fatal accident inquiry concerning the Chinook accident on the Mull of Kintyre. [HL3574]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe two inquiries and the team from the Air Accident Investigation Branch investigating the Mull of Kintyre accident were allowed access to all relevant evidence.
§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Ministry of Defence will not reopen the inquiry to hear the evidence of Squadron Leader R Burke concerning the Chinook helicopter accident on the Mull of Kintyre. [HL3575]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe are always prepared to consider any relevant new evidence. We have considered the points Mr Burke has raised but found nothing to justify reopening the findings of the RAF board of inquiry.
§ Lord Jacobsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 11 July (WA 21) regarding the Chinook helicopter crash in June 1994, whether the conclusion by the board of inquiry as to the most probable cause of the accident and the speculation as to the sequence of events immediately preceding the accident can be 208WA reconciled with the requirements that a finding of negligence must only be made "where there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever". [HL3663]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is possible to be certain of the cause for something happening even though the precise details of events leading up to it are less definite. The decision of the RAF board of inquiry into this accident was that there was no doubt that the actions of the two pilots were the direct cause of this crash and that this amounted to gross negligence.
§ Lord Jacobsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 11 July (WA 21) regarding the Chinook helicopter crash in June 1994, whether the words "probable" and "absolutely no doubt whatsoever" are in contradiction to each other. [HL3664]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNot when taken in context. At the earlier stages of the inquiry a range of scenarios, or possible causes, were considered. The conclusion arrived at was that, irrespective of the precise detail of the sequence of events, there was no doubt that the aircraft had been flown in a way that constituted negligence.