ST
Considering the accident occured at 10.00 am,
AAIB
Of the jets
Their approved time of entry into the LFA was 1030 hrs and, although the
exact time at which they passed the accident site could not be determined, the aircraft had to negotiate bad weather and were delayed on their intended flight plan. They did not enter the low flying area until after 1030 hrs.
Several people however, heard the helicopter. Witnesses, at a farm 1,200 metres north-east of the accident site, clearly heard the engine sound from G-OUEL as it passed low overhead. One of these witnesses heard the continuous sound of the engine suddenly stop with a bang, which she likened to a rifle shot.
So she heard a single helicopter, If the Chinook was in the vicinity I would have expected any witnesses to be describing the very characteristic sound of the 'wokka'. Even to a lay person its a very distinctive sound.
When the Chinook approached Teviothead some 10 minutes after G-OUEL, low cloud beyond this point caused the experienced RAF helicopter pilot, with his navigator, to decide not to continue south
The radar recorded only one primary radar return in the vicinity of the accident site, at 1004 hrs.
So no other primary returns, and no secondary returns showing 7001 the mil low level conspicuity squawk either.