Inquest Hears Cause of Fatal Yorkshire Dales Helicopter Crash Remains Undetermined

An inquest jury has been informed that the reason for a helicopter crash in the Yorkshire Dales, which resulted in the deaths of the pilot and a teenage boy, is still undetermined. The hearing at North Yorkshire Coroner’s Court was told that Ian Macdonald, aged 66, and Admasu Tefera, aged 16, lost their lives when the Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter, piloted by Mr. Macdonald, crashed near the village of Ingleton in June 2022. The helicopter was nearing its landing point following an 80-minute flight around the Lake District when it descended sharply into a tree and subsequently ignited. A report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was presented to the jury, indicating that significant damage from the fire prevented a definitive conclusion regarding the accident’s cause. The AAIB report stated that investigators had explored possibilities such as mechanical failure, an “incorrect pilot response to unexpected environmental conditions,” an unintentional interference with the controls by the passenger, or a medical episode experienced by Mr. Macdonald. However, the inquest jury learned that the report ultimately concluded that “the evidence recovered in this investigation was not sufficient to determine the cause of the accident.” Evidence gathered from the crash site and witness accounts indicated that the engine was operational and the rotor blades were rotating at the moment the aircraft struck the tree; however, other mechanical malfunctions could not be excluded due to the fire, the jury was informed. Although the report mentioned that pilot handling errors could have led to a loss of control, it emphasized Mr. Macdonald’s extensive experience as a flyer. The AAIB report, read aloud in court, stated: “He was not a student or low-hours helicopter pilot. He had 20 years of experience, and he did not routinely fly another helicopter type with an anti-clockwise rotating main rotor.” It further noted: “As a consequence, his instinctive pedal input would likely have been the correct one.” The report indicated that approximately half of Mr. Macdonald’s total flight experience was with the Cabri G2, adding that “he was operating in a familiar environment.” The inquest revealed that Admasu, a German exchange student, had been residing with a local family for three months, and Mr. Macdonald was a respected member of the community in Burton in Lonsdale, a nearby area. Sam Hoggard, a Home Office pathologist, informed the jury that Admasu’s death resulted from a blunt head injury prior to the aircraft being engulfed in flames. Mr. Hoggard stated that Mr. Macdonald’s probable cause of death was a combination of injuries suffered in the impact and the effects of the ensuing fire. Nevertheless, he added that the pilot suffered from coronary heart disease, and he could not exclude the possibility of a fatal medical incident occurring just before the crash. Mr. Hoggard conveyed to senior coroner Jon Heath: “It’s possible. There was nothing to support that being the case, but I can’t exclude that either.” Mr. Heath advised the inquest jury that a cause of death should be established based on the “balance of probabilities,” and therefore, it should be recorded as injuries sustained during the crash and the effects of the fire. Mr. Heath informed the court that AAIB experts had been unable to ascertain the crash’s cause, and consequently, it was not the jurors’ responsibility to make that determination. The jury delivered a narrative conclusion stating that both Mr. Macdonald and Admasu perished due to a helicopter crash.