Colin McRae: Boy on crash flight without permission

• Former world rally champion Colin McRae was piloting the helicopter on a sightseeing trip with his son Johnnyand his friend Ben Porcelli, along with a family friend, when it crashed into woodland near his home in Lanarkshire, killing all on board

Ben Porcelli died along with Mr McRae, his five-year-old son, Johnny and a family friend, Graeme Duncan, 37.

Mr McRae was piloting the aircraft on a sightseeing trip when it collided with trees near his home near Lanark in September 2007.

At the opening day of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the deaths, Ben's parents, Mark and Karen Porcelli, said they did not realise that their son had been allowed to take part in the excursion.

The inquiry, at Lanark Sheriff Court, heard a statement read out from the couple, who were family friends of the McRaes and whose son was a classmate of Johnny McRae at Underbank Primary in nearby Carluke.

On the afternoon of the accident, they had dropped Ben off at the McRae home so he could play with Johnny, but at no point had they discussed the helicopter ride with Mr McRae.

"At no point did Colin McRae seek permission to take Ben in the helicopter," said Mr Porcelli, from Braidwood.

His wife added: "I knew Colin McRae had a helicopter, but there had been no discussion of Ben going in the helicopter on that day, or any other occasion."

The inquiry, before Sheriff Nikola Stewart, later heard evidence from Kathleen Anderson, the McRaes' housekeeper, who consoled Mr McRae's daughter, Holly, 12, after hearing the crash. Under questioning from Ms Meikle, Ms Anderson said she heard "a different noise, a funny noise" as the helicopter approached the home. It was making a labouring, chugging kind of noise when it was coming in," she said. "A few moments later I heard a thud, a bang and then a swoosh. I ran down to Holly, who was in the kitchen, and I said to her, 'Did you hear that funny noise?'

"She said to me, 'Kathleen, I know what it was, it was the quad bike hitting the metal'."

Mrs Anderson then broke down as she described how she comforted Holly as police arrived. She said: "I remember screaming because I thought they were still alive. I thought they would be fine. I didn't realise they were dead.

"I was shouting, 'Oh my wee man, my wee man'."

The inquiry also heard from friends of Mr McRae, who insisted he was "not a show-off" and carried out regular safety checks on the helicopter.

Principal procurator-fiscal depute Kate Meikle read out a witness statement given by Alexander Steele, who visited Mr McRae at his home hours before the fatal journey on 15 September.

Mr Steele, who had known Mr McRae for two years and had been flown by him twice, said: "I've seen him land many times. I've never seen Colin McRae fly irresponsibly at any time."

He said Mr McRae and others were riding quad bikes and Mr Duncan was filming them when he went to the property.

After he left, Mr McRae, Mr Duncan and the two P1 pupils visited the farm of John Crawford in the helicopter.

In his statement, Mr Crawford said he had been an acquaintance of Mr McRae's for over a decade and the champion driver used his helicopter in the same way other people used cars.

He said: "As far as I know, he got it inspected regularly. He was safety-minded at all times. He would document each flight. I've flown with him countless times. He wasn't a show-off."

Mr Crawford added: "Colin did not mention any mechanical problems with his helicopter and I did not hear any unusual noises when it took off or landed."

Earlier, the inquiry was played footage from a Strathclyde Police helicopter which showed the smouldering wreckage of the helicopter shortly after the crash.

In a statement, Sergeant John Watt, who filmed the scenes, said: "I observed the helicopter tail section resting on the top of trees and a rotor blade lying in a field close to the woods."

The inquiry, which is expected to conclude in March, continues.