British and German air accident investigators have reached different conclusions about the cause of a fatal gyroplane crash in the Highlands.

Paul Nichol, from Balloch, Inverness, died when his light plane crashed in a field near Avoch on the Black Island on November 12, 2020.

Britain’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the crash occurred after the gyroplane’s rotor head separated from the rest of the aircraft.

But Germany’s Federal Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (BFU), which was implicated because the plane and its parts are German-made, said the rotor head broke due to the way in which the gyroplane flew and was not the main cause of the accident. accident.

Mr. Nichol was a student pilot and flew solo.

Witnesses reported hearing the plane’s engine “roar” and “crackle” before sounds of cracking and crunching metal.

The gyroplane crashed into farmland and local community emergency services were among those who rushed to the scene.

In a statement following the crash, Mr Nichol’s family said flying gave him a sense of freedom and adventure.

It was said that he loved life and was always busy with new projects.

In a new reportsaid the AAIB, before the accident the gyroplane may have inadvertently entered what they call a low-G flight regime.

Investigators said this may have caused Mr Nichol to feel weightless, and he then carried out a sequence of maneuvers that potentially exposed the plane’s design to stress and strain.

The AAIB said the rotor head separated due to “structural failure due to overload”.

It recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority issue new guidelines on flying gyrocopters and re-evaluate airworthiness certification of aircraft.

The AAIB said its investigation also highlighted problems with gyroplane training materials relating to pilots’ knowledge of the rotor load factor.

The BFU said flight data and evaluation of accident data showed that loss of control of the aircraft contributed to the rotor head breaking off.

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