A coroner yesterday described safety pins in an ejector seat as “useless” as he criticised a manufacturer for failing to warn the RAF of defects which led to the death of a Red Arrows pilot.
Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, 35, died after he was accidentally ejected 220ft into the air from his Hawk T1 while on the ground at RAF Scampton on November 8, 2011.
The South African born pilot, a former member of 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, remained attached to his seat and fell unrestrained by the main parachute to the ground. He suffered fatal brain and cardiovascular injuries as a consequence of the impact, an inquest heard.
Recording a narrative verdict into the death today, coroner Stuart Fisher criticised manufacturer Martin Baker for failing to inform the RAF of risks associated with the seat.
The inquest in Lincoln heard that the ejection seat firing handle had been left in an unsafe position, which meant it could accidentally activate the seat.
Mr Fisher said the safety pin mechanism was “entirely useless” and that it was “likely to mislead”.
Tests of the MK 10 Martin Baker seat had shown that the safety pin could be inserted even when the seat was in an unsafe position, the coroner said.
But he noted that the failure of the handle should not have proved fatal as the parachute should have opened when Flt Lt Cunningham was ejected.
Mr Fisher also criticised Martin Baker for a “serious failure of communication” relating to known risks associated with the over-tightening of nuts and bolts which could “hinder or prevent” the deployment of the main parachute.
Despite being aware of the risks since 1990, Martin Baker failed to warn the Ministry of Defence, the coroner said.
Mr Fisher said: “There was a very serious failure of communication by Martin Baker (the manufacturer) in my view. It is unexplained by the evidence. It seems there is no logic to warn and inform some but not others.”
Lawyers acting for the family yesterday confirmed it had secured an undisclosed settlement from the Ministry of Defence in December last year following a full admission of liability for the incident in July.