Burghfield serviceman died in helicopter crash on final tour of duty

Inquest hears warrant officer was due to retire at end of operation in Afghanistan

A SERVICEMAN who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, far from his home in Burghfield, was flying his last operation before retirement.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer Faulkner was one of five men killed when their Army Air Corps Lynx mk 9A crashed in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar province on April 27, 2014, while on a routine flight.

WO Faulkner, known as Spen, was due to retire on his upcoming 40th birthday after 22 years service, allowing him more time to spend with his wife Cally, daughter Natasha and son Jack, who now live in Hungerford.

Instead, an inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court heard this week that WO Faulkner and the other servicemen onboard died “very rapidly” after the aircraft hit the ground at force and great speed.

The inquest heard that WO Faulkner, sitting in the front of the Lynx with pilot Captain Thomas Clarke, shouted “pull up” three times as the aircraft dropped 25ft in half a second.

Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Faulkner told the court: “I was very happy to support Spencer in his military career and he had a long-time ambition to be a helicopter pilot.

“He was a very intelligent person.

“As a family we became very used to Spencer being away on training and tours of duty.

“Even after completed tours he wouldn’t be home for very long. I know the squadron were stretched.

“This would have been his last operation. He would have retired on his 40th birthday in December [2015] after 22 years.

“He was a true professional. He loved to be around his family and friends. He was very much a family man.”

The Taliban initially claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter, but the Ministry of Defence later said the Lynx was not shot down.

A service inquiry published last year said that the pilots may have been attempting to simulate weightlessness moments before the impact.

But the servicemen’s families are denying that they would have attempted the stunt.

Group Captain Jason Appleton, who led the independent service inquiry into the deaths, said a radar altimeter (radalt) alarm, which warns of close proximity to the ground, could be heard on a recording of the flight just before the tape cut out with a “squelch” upon impact.

Questioning senior flying instructor Major David Sams, family counsel for the Faulkners, Michael Rawlinson QC, said it would not have been possible for the crew to simulate weightlessness during the descent.

“You’d have to be actively naughty to induce a bit of floaty?” Mr Rawlinson asked.

“Yes,” the major replied, adding that negative-G was more likely on a tactical climb.

The former squadron training officer, Major Kevin Anderson, said he had concerns about pilot Captain Thomas Clarke’s shortage of flying hours in the desert.

He also said there was a technical “failure” regarding WO Faulkner being engaged in active service without familiarisation training.

But he admitted that his squadron was undermanned at the time of the fatal crash.

Speaking on WO Faulkner’s not having the mandatory training, Major Anderson said: “It does look as though it failed, but Spen was an experienced pilot. He was an intelligent person.”

Mr Rawlinson asked: “As far as you’re concerned there are no holes in respect of this man’s training?”

Major Anderson replied: “It’s not perfect, but the documentation doesn’t reflect the quality of the pilot.”

The inquest is listed to last until Tuesday, March 15.