tuc:-
The SI correctly reports these factors/failings, but does not explore underlying reasons
Here we are getting to the nub of things. The SI discovers what caused this accident, ie the death of Sean Cunningham, yet its Report does not ascribe to it as such, merely that it was a contributory cause. What they discover is that cause, an overtightened shackle bolt, was a hazard highlighted by the manufacturer decades earlier, yet the UK military airworthiness authority professes no knowledge of it. So a life critical aircraft system, its escape system, is rendered unairworthy and kills, all because all that the engineers have to hand is a generic practice (1.5 threads showing) that does not prevent this unairworthiness. The seat doesn't even have a Safety Case!
All these failings are known of by the SI, yet its Report offers the seat pan handle pin (in/out?) ambiguity as the cause of the accident (ie the death of Flt Lt Cunningham), and is commended for it by the DG Military Aviation Authority responsible for UK Military Airworthiness. This reeks of cover up and Star Chamber intervention. Once again we see a military air accident investigation has been compromised from above. Same old same old.
Self Regulation Doesn't Work and in Aviation it Kills!