Hawker crash at airshow today

[MiloMorai]

It was the pilots fault or it sure looked that way, he pulled the loop way too low and over a highway, I can't believe he is still alive...

Thousands of airplanes land and take off over roads every day.

[cpxxx]

Before you rush to judgement. Here's a link to the actual report:

https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/55e993f5ed915d06a100002c/S3-2015_G-BXFI.pdf

This is the most significant paragraph: "Cockpit imagery is being analysed to help understand the final manoeuvre in more detail and to provide system status information.  Initial findings indicate that the minimum air speed of the aircraft was approximately 100 KIAS whilst inverted at the top of the manoeuvre.  The associated audio recording is being analysed for information relating to the aircraft systems."

That's a big clue as to the direction that investigation will take. I'm no expert on Hunters but I imagine 100 knots is below the stall speed for that aircraft. It imagine it would be difficult to regain the energy in the descent. Particularly from the altitude of 2600 feet.

It's still too soon to rush to judgement.

[MiloMorai]

Hunter Mk6 Pilot manual

http://www.rafjever.org/hunter6pictures.htm

[Widewing]

Obviously, it's too early for a definitive cause to be determined....

That said, if there was no failure of the aircraft, the pilot (Hill) will own it. It's that simple.

In this case, I'd give odds at 100 to 1 that there was no aircraft failure.

Air show professionals have stated privately that the maneuver was started at or below the air show minimum altitude (AGL) for any aerobatics, and the apex of the maneuver was far too low to have even a shred of margin. One suggested that seeing his altitude was insufficient, he should have rolled out at the top of the loop. Unlike Leslie Hatcher, these gents will keep their opinions among themselves and await the accident report. It wouldn't be the first time an air show pilot G locked himself when falling below minimums.

Of course, we'll never know what was going through Hill's mind until they can talk with him, and that will probably be a while before that happens.

[cpxxx]

A friend, a former fast jet pilot and current airshow pilot who knows Andy Hill suggested 'turret drive failure' on his FB page quite soon after the accident. I haven't spoken to him since but I believe it would result in loss of hydraulic power. I'm sure that's one avenue of investigation.

[DaveBB]

In one of the photos I posted, the aircraft's nose is about 20 degrees above the horizon milliseconds before impact.  The attitude of the aircraft was correct, the sink rate was simply negative.  That may imply that the pilot was conscious and all hydraulic systems were working.

[SysError]

Stay tuned, we may find out a lot soon.

"Friend of Shoreham Airshow jet pilot Andrew Hills reveals he's on the mend as police prepare to question him"

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13714242.Friend_of_Shoreham_Airshow_jet_pilot_Andrew_Hills_reveals_he_s_on_the_mend_as_police_prepare_to_question_him/


Questions:
Why would the police question him? 
Do aeronautics investigators have to pass their questions through or in the presence of the police in England?
Typically are the reports that are written because of such investigations made available quickly, or is it wait and wait and wait...?



 

[MiloMorai]

Why would the police question him?

Possibly to find out if criminal charges should be laid against the pilot.

[Zimme83]

Guess its routine in such cases that the police do their own investigation. Air crash investigators dont handle legal responsibility as most of us know. I dobut however that they will do anything besides questioning him until the air crash investigation is done.