Rescue 116 Crash at Blackrock, Co Mayo(Mod note in post 1)

Discodog wrote: »

I don't think that this can be discounted. No matter how much technical equipment is fitted to aircraft you can still have accidents, by a technical failure, human failure or a combination of both. The whole basis of investigation is that nothing is ruled out.

The post by Irish Steve was aimed towards the speculative posts of "maybe they got mixed up and thought they were going to Blacksod at sea level rather than Blackrock at 300ft , hence why they flew into the island" type posts.

Of course in any investigation by the relevant authorites all possible causes will be explored. However the keyboard investigators making light of the high levels of professionalism are not showing respect to the memory of the R116 and their SAR colleagues who continue to do their work off our coasts. The need to get answers is apparent but as with any aviation incident there is a period of waiting that can be quite long.

elastico wrote: »

So why go ruling out 2 theories yourself then?:rolleyes:

While I don't have a professional licence on helicopters, based on a long time involved with and around aircraft, I am willing to view some theories as unlikely on the basis that the aircraft on board equipment would have been working very hard to get the attention of the crew if they were flying into danger, and unless there was a massive technical problem with the fuel tanks, they were nowhere near their range or endurance limits.

I also have to give more than a little credence to the massive experience and training of the crew, while any of us can make a mistake, the crew of 116 are not new to the job, or cavalier in their actions, their track record makes that very clear, so it is reasonable to try and damp down some of the speculation that has come from people who do not have enough information about the background and nature of this desperate tragedy.

Yes, I could be wrong, and if that proves to be the case, I will be both deeply saddened and very surprised, and willing to admit it, for now, given what we do know about the crew and the aircraft type, there are some things that while statistically possible, there are realistically other scenarios that are more likely to be the major contributors to this event, and it is almost certain that the eventual outcome will be that a combination of events occurred that could not be predicted.

Yes, I am trying to "steer" the thread, mainly to try and avoid some of the gutter press type speculation about this incident, and to try and ensure that a brave, professional and capable crew are not dishonoured by comments made as a result of a lack of background information that is relatively easy to find if a bit of searching is done.