Leicester City owner's helicopter crash caused by faulty tail rotor blades and pilot pedals

Late Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crashed in a fireball outside the King Power Stadium on October 27, killing him and four others on board.

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Leicester City owner's helicopter crash caused by faulty tail rotor blades and pilot pedals
Wreckage of the helicopter belonging to Leicester City owner that crashed outside the King Power Stadium (Reuters Photo)

In Short

  • A system linking the pilot's pedals with the tail rotor failed on Vichai's helicopter
  • The helicopter had barely cleared the top of the stadium before it started to spin
  • The Thai billionaire had bought Leicester City in 2010 which then went on to win the Premier League in 2015

Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has revealed that the helicopter crash, which caused the death of Leicester City football club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was caused after the tail rotor blades got disconnected from the pilot's pedals.

An investigation into the crash has found that the aircraft came crashing down when a system linking the pilot's pedals with the tail rotor failed, causing an 'uncontrollable' spin.

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Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four of his employees, died in the crash which took place outside the King Power stadium following the conclusion Leicester City's Premier League game against West Ham United on October 27.

According to witnesses, the helicopter had barely cleared the top of the stadium before it started to spin. It then plummeted to the ground and burst into flames.

"The initiating cause and exact sequence of the failure that resulted in the loss of tail rotor control is being investigated as a priority.

"The AAIB is working with relevant organisations to identify any other factors that may have contributed to the loss of tail rotor control. The tail rotor system was first inspected at the crash site. This identified that the input lever mechanism was not attached to the control shaft.

"The pin, spacers and one of the locating bearings were missing from the lever. The locking nut and pin carrier were found loose in the tail rotor fairing and were bonded together (they should be separate components)," the report claimed.

Vichai used his fortune to secure better players and to boost wages for his team, giving them a platform to become champions (Reuters Photo)

Vichai had bought the unheralded central England side in 2010 which then went on to stun the soccer world by beating odds of 5,000/1 to win the Premier League title in 2016.

He rose from obscurity as a printer and leather goods trader to become a polo-playing buddy of royalty and then the improbable hero of a city in England's Midlands.

The 60-year-old retail entrepreneur showed a knack for winning people over with charm and largesse. He navigated Thai political turmoil and secured the King Power duty free concession that gave him a fortune estimated at nearly $5 billion.

More than other foreign Premier League owners, he forged a close personal connection to the club.

Vichai was a devoted Buddhist and flew orange-robed monks to Leicester for blessings and to provide spiritual amulets to help the team.

He used his fortune to secure better players and to boost wages for his team, giving them a platform to become champions. He also bought beer and pastries to reward the loyalty of fans at the King Power stadium that was named for his company.