'IT'S CLEAR COLIN TOOK RISKS.. THE CRASH WAS AVOIDABLE' EXPERTS SAY CAUSE OF McRAE FIREBALL HORROR IS STILL MYSTERY Tragic parents speak out after probe into rally ace's helicopter death smash.

Byline: By Ben Spencer

THE helicopter crash that killed rally driving legend Colin McRae could have been caused when he made a difficult turn and smashed into trees.

McRae, his son Johnny, five, and his six-year-old pal Ben Porcelli, and the driving champ's friend Graeme Duncan all died in the crash in September 2007.

Yesterday, a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch revealed there was no evidence that the Eurocopter Squirrel which McRae was piloting had malfunctioned.

And last night, little Ben's parents, Mark and Karen, released a statement through police.

They said: "The cause of the crash is clearly outlined in the report.

"Most of the flight was captured on video and it is clearly evident that unnecessary risks were taken and that the accident was completely avoidable."

McRae, 39, had been attempting to land the helicopter in the grounds of his home near Lanark when the crash happened after a deviation from the natural flight path to the landing area.

The report found that McRae's turning manouevre in the Mouse Water Valley was "a demanding one, which would have subjected the helicopter and its occupants to an increased risk".

It added: "The pilot placed his helicopter in a situation in which there was greatly reduced margin for error, or opportunity to deal with an unexpected event."

Investigators found that during the flight on September 15, McRae had repeatedly flown his helicopter very close to the ground.

The report stressed that pilots performing "demanding" low flying usually carry out regular specialised training.

It added that a phenomenon that can give the impression that controls are jammed may have led to the significant deviation in the flight path that McRae was trying to correct.

This phenomenon, known as "servo transparency" can also lead to a pilot failing to realise the aircraft is banking significantly and the report concluded it "may have been a factor in this accident".

It continued: "The circumstances of the accident, which included a strong tailwind, suggest that the pilot needed to fly an unexpectedly high performance manoeuvre which led to, or contributed to, the flight path deviation.

"This deviation may have been due to a servo transparency encounter, spatial disorientation, misjudgment or some other factors or combination of factors."

There was no data recorder on the helicopter but the journey was filmed by Graeme Duncan on a camcorder.

The film, which ends 55 seconds before the crash, shows the passengers laughing and shouting as McRae flies within 20 feet of trees in a valley. Investigators also spoke to 20 witnesses who saw the flight.

Some witnesses described the helicopter's path and speed as "unusual" and "alarming".

Two witnesses told investigators they they had seen McRae's aircraft performing a similar manoeuvre before.

A soldier who heard the helicopter flying past and was familiar with choppers, also described it as normal.

Investigators carried out a painstaking examination of the wreckage but were unable to find any evidence that the chopper malfunctioned.

They did however say that a technical fault could not be entirely ruled out.

The weather on the day of the crash was described as "generally good". The AAIB said that a birdstrike, the dropping of a camcorder in the cockpit and possible interference with the controls by the frontseat passenger (Mr Duncan) could not be ruled out as contributory factors.

Also, although no technical reason was found to explain the accident, "a technical fault, while considered unlikely, could not be ruled out entirely", the report said.

A post-mortem examination on McRae found no evidence he had taken drugs or had been drinking on the day of the crash.

But the report did reveal he had repeatedly flown without a valid flying licence or "type rating" that would have allowed him to fly his helicopter.

His five-year flying licence had expired in February 2005 and his "valid type rating" expired in March 2007.

The report singled out one occasion in March 2006 when McRae flew from Scotland to London knowing his type rating had expired since the purpose of the flight was to meet with an examiner to renew it.

The AAIB recommended a tightening of licensing and proficiency check procedures and also recommended that Eurocopter reviewed their information and advice about the servo transparency phenomenon.

McRae's father Jimmy said: "The AAIB report, in line with the findings of our own experts, has been unable to reach any firm conclusions on the accident and it is therefore extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that we will never know the actual cause of the crash.

"It has been confirmed by instructors, examiners and pilots with whom he flew, that Colin's skills as a helicopter pilot were of the highest order.

CAPTION(S):

WRECKAGE: Debris from Colin McRae's helicopter lies in the woods near his home; KILLED: From top, Ben Porcelli, Johnny McRae and Graeme Duncan all died in the helicopter crash; TRAGIC HERO: Rally star McRae, right, and, above in the copter that crashed. Left, photo of the crash site