[Peetwo]

Going, going gone - ATSB buries Jabiru  

The ATSB released investigation research report AR-2013-107 today, the following is the safety issues & actions section of that report:

Safety issues and actions

The safety issues identified during this investigation are listed in the Findings and Safety issues and actions sections of this report. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) expects that all safety issues identified by the investigation should be addressed by the relevant organisation(s). In addressing those issues, the ATSB prefers to encourage relevant organisation(s) to proactively initiate safety action, rather than to issue formal safety recommendations or safety advisory notices.

All of the directly involved parties were provided with a draft report and invited to provide submissions. As part of that process, each organisation was asked to communicate what safety actions, if any, they had carried out or were planning to carry out in relation to each safety issue relevant to their organisation.

The initial public version of these safety issues and actions are repeated separately on the ATSB website to facilitate monitoring by interested parties. Where relevant the safety issues and actions will be updated on the ATSB website as information comes to hand.

Through-bolt failures in Jabiru engines
Thicker 7/16 inch diameter through-bolts, fitted to newer Jabiru engines and some retro-fitted engines, have had limited service to date to confirm early indications that they reduce this risk. Retro-fitting engines with thicker through-bolts has only been recommended for aircraft involved in flight training by JSB031 issue 3. Most light aircraft in service with Jabiru engines continue to use 3/8 inch diameter engine through-bolts which, even after upgrades in accordance with Jabiru service bulletins JSB031 issues 1 and 2, remain at an elevated risk of fracturing within the service life of the bolt, leading to an engine failure or malfunction in flight.

Aviation safety issue: AR-2013-107-SI-01

ATSB safety recommendation: AR-2013-107-SR-055

ATSB safety recommendation: AR-2013-107-SR-056
 

"...the ATSB prefers to encourage relevant organisation(s) to proactively initiate safety action, rather than to issue formal safety recommendations or safety advisory notices..."

Hmm...guess the bureau has a sense of mistrust when it comes to Jabiru aircraft- why??

Here is a summary of the ATSB findings & implications to Jabiru courtesy Hitch:

The Jabiru J230.


ATSB Engine Report zeroes in on Jabiru Failures
09 Mar 2016

  

Update - The other side of the story

Queensland firm Jabiru defends record following Australian Transport Safety Bureau report

March 10, 2016 1:00am
DARYL PASSMORE The Courier-Mail


Two young pilots at the controls of a Jabiru J-170 aircraft are forced to put emergency landing procedures into play. Courtesy: ABC

• September 3rd 2013
  
• 3 years ago
  
• /video/video.news.com.au/News/
  

LIGHT aircraft manufactured by a Queensland company were involved in four out of 10 engine failures reported to safety officials over a six-year period.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed that of 322 single-engine aircraft failures or malfunctions investigated from 2009-14, 130 involved planes or engines produced by Bundaberg-based Jabiru Aircraft.

“This represents about one in 10 aircraft powered by Jabiru engines in the study set having reported an engine failure or malfunction,” the report said.

The company produces complete aircraft and kits for recreational use and pilot training, as well as engines for domestic and export markets.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has imposed restrictions on the use of Jabiru aircraft since 2014. But Jabiru business manager Sue Woods said it had sold about 6500 aircraft worldwide and no other country had imposed restrictions.

The report said almost half the problems in the Jabiru engine were caused by fractured components.
[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v1/?category=/section/couriermail.com.au/collection/popular-content/all/24hours/&t_product=most-popular-mobile&td_standfirst=false&td_kicker=false&td_byline=false&td_resultSize=6&maxRelated=20&display:footer=true&origin=omniture&t_template=s3/chronicle-component/readnext/templates/index&domain=couriermail.com.au&widget=otherstories[/img]
Rodd Stiff and with daughter and Jabiru business manager Sue Woods. Ms Woods says the way aircraft are used at flying schools put particular strain on parts. Picture: Adam Armstrong
The company said that ­although its planes were involved in three fatal crashes in 12 years, their safety record is better than other light aircraft in Australia. None of the fatalities were linked to engine failure.

Ms Woods said the way aircraft were used at flying schools put particular strain on parts.

She said many of the 130 cases studied by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were not related to manufacture and included issues such as fuel contamination, insects in carburettors and maintenance factors.

Further update today 10/03/16:

Courtesy Oz Flying:

A Jabiru 2200 engine. (Jabiru)


Jabiru slams ATSB over Engine Failure Report
10 Mar 2016

Jabiru Aircraft has lashed out at the ATSB over an investigation report released this week into engine failures in GA aeroplanes.

The report analysed 332 failures, but focused on the 130 incidents involving Jabiru-engined aeroplanes. According to Jabiru's Sue Woods, the ATSB report and conclusions have several failings.

"Interrogation of the data behind the statistics in this ATSB report is lacking to a great extent," Woods told Australian Flying.

"Many of the incidents have less to do with engine failures and more to do with things like fuel exhaustion, contaminated fuel, carburettor icing, modified engines, maintenance operation and many other contributing factors.

"The ATSB has based the report on the data given in reports, which is often no more than a one-line description. To my knowledge, the ATSB has never investigated a report involving a Jabiru engine failure!

"They could have written the report without trying to scare people away from Jabiru They could have given the information with a more balanced approach.

"Their motivation in writing it the way they did has to be questioned."

Jabiru engines have been the subject of CASA-imposed limitations since December 2014, which has been disastrous for the company as many customers have been reluctant to buy aeroplanes that could be limited in operations. According to Woods, CASA put the limitations on despite Jabiru-powered aircraft having a better fatality record that some other comparable types.

"CASA seems to have forgotten the LSA rules they set up when they created the category. Allowing only two people and having a stall speed of 45 knots are all mitigating safety factors.

"When you take into account the rate of fatal accidents per number of aircraft registered, Jabiru comes at 0.3, compared with 1.6 for Tecnam, 2.8 for the Cessna 172 and 2.2 for the Vans RV series. But, it seems that CASA doesn't want to know about that."

In the meantime, CASA has responded to the report by stating they will not remove the limitations on Jabiru engines despite the company diagnosing and correcting issues, stating that they still need more information before deciding their next move.

"CASA is analysing data provided by Jabiru and from individual engine tear-down analyses conducted by Jabiru and independently under ATSB oversight.

"We are waiting for further data from Recreational Aviation Australia, and maintenance data on a number of individual engines, which will also need to be assessed.

"The ATSB’s final investigation report on Engine Failures and Malfunctions in Light Aeroplanes, which bears directly on key aspects of CASA’s concerns with Jabiru-powered aircraft, will also be taken into account before any decisions are made.

"CASA will review all the information available as quickly as possible.

"CASA expects to be in a position to decide whether the operational limitations can be withdrawn or relaxed before the current direction imposing the limitations expires at the end of June 2016. 

"Only after CASA can be satisfied that steps to effectively mitigate the safety risks with which we are concerned have been identified, however, will those limiting conditions be adjusted accordingly."

 
MTF...P2