Colin McRae inquiry: Wind 'may have caused problem' for helicopter

WINDY weather "probably" caused difficulties for the helicopter of former world rallying champion Colin McRae, an inquiry into the crash that killed him has heard.

• McRae crashed his helicopter in 2007

Civil engineer Donald Cook said the aircraft appeared to be flying lower than normal, and the engine had seemed "fine" on the day of the crash.

Mr Cook was giving evidence at a fatal accident inquiry into the 2007 crash, which claimed the lives of McRae, 39, his five-year-old son Johnny, the boy's six-year-old school friend Ben Porcelli, and Graeme Duncan, 37.

The aircraft came down near the rally ace's home in Lanark on September 15 that year as he flew home from a trip to see a friend.

Mr Cook, 54, told Lanark Sheriff Court he was out walking his dog near Lee Castle in Lanark when he spotted the aircraft flying low.

The witness told the court he was familiar with helicopters through his work and they tended to attract his attention as a result.

He said: "I also noticed it was at a relatively low height. It's difficult to determine height accurately, it was maybe three or four hundred feet, quite a bit lower than helicopters would normally fly at."

Mr Cook said he saw news of the helicopter crash later that day, which contained suggestions of engine problems and erratic flying.

But the witness told the court there was no sign of engine problems at the point when he saw the helicopter.

"The engine was fine," he told the inquiry.

He also told the court: "I do remember it was quite a windy day. I thought, the guy's probably having difficulty flying in that condition."

The inquiry heard yesterday from several witnesses who spoke of hearing an unusual noise from the helicopter on the day of the crash.

Robert Muncie, 54, said the aircraft had been making a "clunking" noise like the sound of bricks in a cement mixer.

And Anne Cooper, 57, said she and her mother feared there was something wrong with the helicopter because it was making a noise resembling coins in a washing machine.

The inquiry is expected to run for a number of weeks.

The hearing, before Sheriff Nikola Stewart, will resume on January 24.