I know everyone keeps repeating that witnesses are unreliable, but there were 120 or so in the pub, none of which have reported hearing engine noise. Neither did the editor of the Scottish Sun. If the courts or police took the view that some do on here there would no point calling any witnesses to any trial.
A witness who heard the police helicopter shortly before the crash reported an "odd noise as if the engine was misfiring, with the rotor blades sounding fine for several beats before an odd metallic grating noise could be heard",
The Guardian reports. Aviation consultant Struan Johnston told the paper that the noises were "consistent" with the helicopter's gearbox transmission system "breaking up".