'It is horrific to think my daughter died just for the sake of not having a seat belt'

Retired chartered engineer and Army veteran Major Robert Raine, of Usher Lane, Haxby, said he was "disgusted" that military personnel did not get better safety equipment.

His daughter, Major Vanessa Lang, 40, also from Haxby, died from multiple injuries after both engines of a helicopter failed during a routine flight across the war-torn West African country.

She was the first British soldier to die there after British forces joined UN troops in backing the government of Sierra Leone against renegade militias in 2000.

As a result of her death, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has pledged that any helicopter used by service people anywhere in the world must match British safety and maintenance standards.

York coroner Donald Coverdale recorded a verdict of accidental death, after hearing how none of the four passengers had helmets or safety belts. Two of them did not even have seats.

Mr Coverdale recommended that the MoD review all its helicopter flight safety procedures, and improve maintenance standards in foreign operations.

Major Raine also criticised the upkeep of the helicopter, after he heard that it regularly exceeded its engine safety limits during take off and that some faults were not recorded.

He said: "It is horrific to think my daughter died just for the sake of not having a seat belt.

"I am disgusted by the whole thing. I have known from day one about there being no seatbelts and I am furious at the British Forces. It would have cost them just £80.

"I want to make certain that no more soldiers are not subject to the same sort of risks. Not having crash helmets is also disgusting.

"It would appear to me as a chartered engineer that the standard of maintenance was chaotic and contravened every standard of maintenance I've ever heard of."

The inquest heard how Major Lang, a press officer during the civil war in Sierra Leone, died after the Russian-made helicopter in which she was a passenger crash landed in a rice paddy.

Three other passengers, as well as the pilot and co-pilot, managed to escape the burning wreckage. A medic tried to resuscitate Major Lang at the scene, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

In a statement, Dr Ian Hill told the inquest that Major Lang died from internal bleeding after two major veins in her neck ruptured and that her survival would have been "extremely unlikely" even with immediate care.

Lieutenant Commander Michael Cooke, of the Royal Navy flight safety and accident investigation centre, said the helicopter would have been better maintained in England.

He added: "The engineers were dealing with the maintenance manual of an old agricultural aircraft and they were doing their best with the materials available to them."

Mr Coverdale said his only option was to record a verdict of accidental death, but added he would write to the MoD asking for improved safety measures.

He said: "Any person using a helicopter, whether in this country or overseas, which clearly includes service personnel, are entitled to assume that the machine has been maintained to an airworthy standard.

"I believe that if seatbelts had been worn the nature of the injuries would have been very different. I can't say for sure that Major Lang would not have died, but she would have stood a better chance."

The crash happened when the "catastrophic" failure of one of the helicopter's engine released fragments of metal that badly damaged the second engine. Lt Cdr Cooke said spares and manuals had been on order for 12 months and there was a shortage of parts.

Major Lang was buried at Haxby Cemetery after a funeral at St Wilfrid's Garrison Church, Strensall, in November 2001.

She joined the Army in 1979. The widow of an Army officer, she had no children. Her career included tours in Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

Final minutes of the helicopter's flight from Freetown to Kenema

October 19, 2001, 7.08am: Take off as usual for the short flight.

7.12am: Several minutes after take off a sudden screeching noise begins in engine one as the helicopter travels at 180km/h. No warning signs light up and the pilot gains altitude to avoid low cloud.

About 7.14am: Vibration warning light for engine two flickers on, pilot lowers speed to 150km/h, but a loud bang occurs. Number one engine automatic warnings start. Pilot shuts down engine, which is now on fire.

Pilot broadcasts Mayday and lowers undercarriage for landing. He chooses a suitable landing site in a rice paddy. He puts helicopter into "auto rotate", meaning it can land without engines.

A second loud bang. Number two engine fails after parts from the "catastrophic" number one engine failure explode into it.

The gunner and medic, who had been sitting on crates, make brace positions by lying face down on the floor of the aircraft with their arms folded beneath their heads. Immediately before impact gunner opens right-hand door.

Maj Lang and an Australian, who are in a two-man drop seat at the rear of the helicopter, go into brace position facing forward.

7.20am: Pilot makes emergency landing. Helicopter bounces forward and keels over on to one side at a 45 degree angle as it comes to rest on a tree stump. Main rotor blades hit the soft ground and break off.

7.21am: The fire begins spreading rapidly. Co-pilot and medic clamber free. Australian soldier pulls Maj Lang from the aircraft. Ammunition from machine gun begins to explode in the fire.

Pilot, who has been knocked out by the impact, regains consciousness. He cannot reach cockpit fire extinguisher release because of harness. He releases himself and falls free of the burning aircraft.

Lance Corporal medic finds Major Lang has stopped breathing. He attempts to resuscitate her and she is taken to hospital by pick up truck and ambulance. She is pronounced dead on arrival.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, August 19, 2005