Originally Posted by
Video Mixdown
Once worked on an animation/cockpit voice recording of the loss of a Merlin in the 1990's. The crew were all wearing parachutes because it was a test flight and survived. Abandonment sounded remarkably calm and controlled.
According to this
Independent story ZF644 (PP4) was flying at 12000 feet;
The aircraft's chief test pilot, Captain John Dickens, who suffered severe back injuries, was praised by Westland for bailing out late to avoid houses
ASN states 3 bailed out at c.10,000ft and Capt Dickens at 1,200'. Accident caused by a sub-standard component in the tail rotor pitch control system .