Helicopter's pier landing 'risked lives'

Clacton pier was crowded with holidaymakers

A pilot has appeared in court accused of endangering lives by landing his helicopter on a busy seaside pier to pick up his wife.

The jury at Chelmsford Crown Court heard Derek Hammond landed his Bell Jet Ranger helicopter on the end of Clacton pier in Essex on a hot day in July 1999.

Children ran towards the helicopter and others were forced to move out of the way as the aircraft landed, the court heard.

Mr Hammond then got out of the helicopter, told a pier manager there was no problem and said he had landed to pick his wife up.

Children stopped 20 yards short of the helicopter's rotor blades and they were able to touch it just before Mr Hammond took off again, the court heard.

Crowded spot

Mr Hammond, from Broadstairs, Kent, denies recklessly causing the helicopter to endanger people or property.

He also denies an alternative charge of negligently causing the helicopter to endanger people or property.

Julia Flanagan, prosecuting for the Civil Aviation Authority, said: "It was a hot summer's day at Clacton pier. The pier was busy with holidaymakers who were all engaging in various activities.

"Some were sitting in deckchairs while others were at the Jolly Roger restaurant.

"The proprietor of that restaurant saw a helicopter flying towards the pier. It proceeded to land at the end of Clacton pier."

'No problem'

Miss Flanagan added: "The helicopter came without warning. People gravitated towards it to see what was going on.

"Some people had to move to let the helicopter land."

"I am just waiting to pick my wife up."

Derek Hammond

Some children started to run towards the helicopter and they were unable to hear warnings shouted at them.

Miss Flanagan said: "The children stopped short of the helicopter blades by some 20 yards."

She said Mr Hammond got out of the aircraft and told a pier manager there was "no problem".

Potentially 'fatal'

He told the manager: "I am just waiting to pick my wife up."

Mr Hammond claimed he had got permission to land the helicopter on the pier.

Miss Flanagan said: "A lady did arrive and climbed on to the helicopter. The engines were then started."

The Crown alleged Mr Hammond made "no attempt" to move people away from the scene and some children even managed to touch the helicopter before it actually started.

The pier manager cleared the area before the aircraft took off.

Miss Flanagan said that if any person had come into contact with the tail rotor it could have been "fatal".

Mr Hammond had claimed flights were allowed to take off from Clacton pier but Miss Flanagan told the court "no flights had been allowed for 10 years".