Thor Nogson
I am saying that of all the available information much points to a planned approach to a known LZ and no part of all the available information contradicts this.
The actions of the crew strongly suggest that they were surprised at their arrival at the mist covered slope, that they had misjudged their closing range to that slope, despite their knowledge that they must have been close to it (STANS, visual, and mental DR) – fast approaches to ships' helidecks depend on TACAN and can go wrong even in clear weather (eg Oz Blackhawk) – you need accurate, reliable distance measurement.
From a practical handling point of view with regard to the nature of that LZ, a fast approach would have been suitable if conditions allowed clear sight of a visual reference (which they were most probably not) or if they had a local distance measuring aid; the only such aid that a pilot would have trusted and could have been there was a PRC112; if the PRC112 was out of position, say ˝ a mile or so up the hill instead of at the LZ, then the early turn and misjudgment of closing range is explained … well, I have explained this many times before as well as why a demonstration of such equipment could have been appropriate at that time.
A “monumental” coverup? - not many would need to know that it was a cover up of any kind - an ad hoc training addition to a routine flight (common enough) that went tragically wrong – easy enough: keep the exercise hush hush/need to know, tell those few involved that it was human error on the ground but it would be embarrassing for the service and there could be serious civil unrest if the public thought there was any chance of it being deliberate, threaten to bludgeon with the official secrets act, etc. Have you ever tried asking anything about the CPLS system? Noticed that it is still taboo – no one wants to touch on the subject with a barge pole? A case of the pilots taking one for the team?
As I have said before, perhaps it was an accident but if such equipment was being trialled/demonstrated then it would have been very easy for someone to deliberately be out of position and the implications of this are so serious that any chance of this being so must be explored thoroughly. There was a political motive for an arranged accident and so the RAF/MOD must swallow its pride and acknowledge the planned approach so that the police can investigate.