Helicopter crew face no charges
from BBC NEWS:
Helicopter crew face no charges
No charges will be brought against an RAF crew after a woman was fatally injured when her horse was "spooked" by a helicopter. The Crown Prosecution (CPS) decided not to take further action over the death of Heath Bell, 38, from Middle Rasen.
Lincolnshire Police investigated claims the Chinook was flying as low as 30 feet. A full inquest into the death will be held in October.
A pre-inquest hearing at Louth Magistrates Court heard Mrs Bell was riding with two friends when the incident happened in June 2003. She was thrown after her horse was allegedly startled by the Chinook. The married mother-of-two was taken to hospital but died a few hours later.
Police say the Chinook had clearance to fly down to 50 feet - but witnesses claimed it "parted trees and flattened crops".
Although the CPS will not bring charges, the Health and Safety Executive could still bring its own prosecution.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence told the hearing that no RAF inquiry or court martial had yet taken place.
Adjourning the hearing for a full inquest later this year, Louth Coroner Stuart Fisher recommended that a safe reconstruction of the incident should be staged.
He also ordered that a senior RAF officer should attend the inquest to explain low-flying policy and disclose any similar incidents over the past four years.
Witnesses claimed it "parted trees and flattened crops". Makes a change from witnesses claiming low flying aircraft passed between chimney pots, or they had to duck.