M.Mouse
It is good to see an extremely well thought out post.
i disagree, and over point:
Even with the crane boom in the horizontal how far from the building would it extend? The boom was not horizontal but at quite a high angle from the horizontal so was probably extended what distance from the building? 100' maybe? How close to obstacles do you intentionally fly in marginal conditions? Whatever the reason the helicopter was too close to an obstruction with fatal consequences
The inference is that the heli was flown intentionally close to the obstacle in marginal weather, the point about lighting which Pace has made is valid. space in area is limited and obstructions made visible by any and all means possible
safety margins is the key.
No professional pilot on a commercial op. would engage in reckless endangerment by intentionally placing their craft close to an obstruction in marginal weather and the sentence implies the opposite.
as posted before, there are many that will use this incident to further an agenda detrimental to heli ops in the London (and possibly other cities). we also know media and other sources use this forum for references, so please think about your post and how it can be construed and also misrepresented.
As posted previously there are details a few pages back of the number of heli ops in London from 2012 back to 2007, and the number of incidents and fatalities is about as minimal as it could be.
BossEyed makes the valid point:
rather than "something must be done", my reaction to this unhappy event is that despite it being rush-hour, close to the centre of one of the most populated cities in the Western world, the really rather low resultant casualties and disruption suggest that the regulators and responders probably have it about right. Chance played a part, of course, but that can work both ways.
And before anyone starts, no - I am not making light of the tragedies for the families of Capt Barnes, Mr Wood, the critically injured person and the other casualties. Far from it.
From all sources, it would be apparent that Peter Barnes was a highly experienced and professional pilot with expertise in his field.