Anyone reading the AAIB Report alone on this unfortunate accident is left with a clear view on fault on the part of the pilot. This is a potentially dangerous and in the main, uncharacteristic starting point for such reports in any event.
The point is materially accelerated further in the wrong direction if you accept that the AAIB Report is materially wrong in a number of areas.
The evidence at the Trial was clear.
The pilot (and only actual available witness of what happened in the aircraft) had from the very outset said that he sustained a left rudder jam following a left turn, which he could not free.
As the aircraft attempted to depart to the left, he held it off with, (the only control available to him) - opposite stick. It did not solve the problem for long and as he relaxed the controls to see if that would free the jam the aircraft attempted to aggressively depart to the left; he snatched the stick back and the aircraft flicked over and into a violent left spin, which he could not recover from.
A word to the wise, the pilot is clear that he was not attempting any form of aerobatics, loop or otherwise as part of the accident sequence and/or the subject flight. The conclusion of 'loop' was seemingly speculative (and a premature conclusion) based upon having flown loops in the subject area on a previous flight, (and the error by those investigating with for example, ground witnesses) - see Legalapproach. The investigators investigation was admitted as limited.
The actual evidence at Trial was clear to all. There had been detailed investigation of the evidence by the defence team and experts. This included the GPS, wreckage, accident scene photographs, witnesses and expert analyses - including flight physics / mathematical modelling and flight testing. Independently but complimentary to each other, the only version of events that remained possible was as the pilot had described it from the outset, (including to the paramedic as he was being cut out from the aircraft with serious injuries).
Accordingly, there are a number of questions (not specific to this pilot and not confined to this accident) that need to be asked…
Last edited by flying-saint; 13th May 2015 at 14:07.