Cause remains a mystery

According to the Shields Gazette 31 January 2007 in article 'NO MECHANICAL FAULT' ON HELICOPTER by Carlie Hamiltons Click here

"MYSTERY still surrounds the cause of a helicopter crash"

Flight recorders show the crew were unhappy with their approach and began a 'go-around.'

The helicopter, which was pitched forward at an angle of 38 and banked over to the right, also at an angle of 38, levelled out, but continued to gain speed. It began to roll over to the right again, and when it hit the water it was travelling at a speed of around 126 knots.

The AAIB report said: "The conclusion of this preliminary examination is that there are no signs of pre-impact malfunction of any major mechanical components, including the tail rotor and its drive shaft. "A review of the recorded data to date has not indicated any problems of a technical nature, and no helicopter manoeuvres have been identified which were not in response to flight control inputs.

So what did cause the crash. Referring to a previous post about what generally causes helicopter accidents it seems that mechanical and electrical malfunction have been ruled out. From this list it only leaves operational errors. There is another theory about a gas leak covered by another previous post