I'm not sure why they elected to make their final approach downwind - if it was a moderate Westerly it would be well within the capabilities of the aircraft but it would make more sense to approach into wind with a slower groundspeed if conditions were poor,
Without knowing the heights and speeds from the data points it is difficult to know but perhaps their Westerly track to the rock which then diverged slightly North was an aborted approach due to a technical issue which forced them to go around, deal with the problem and then make a quick approach downwind to get visual.
As for top-cover - it is better to have a helicopter that can rescue you than a fixed wing that can only provide comms, I did the first long range job 250nm W from Castletown Bere after the demise of the Nimrod and we had a Fisheries protection Cessna for top cover - it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing you are not out there alone but if something goes wrong they cant really help you.
Crab, I appreciate your insights into this accident, especially your technical inputs.
In your last post above, are you thinking "final approach" was meant to be to the Blackrock Light helipad? The report is that at almost the exact spot of the last position, someone transmitted "Landing at Blacksod".
In reply to an earlier post, I see someone saying that Blackrock Light doesn't show any signs of a strike, nor does the rock. The Times is now saying the investigors are going back to Blackrock to investigage "something of interest" or something like that.