[Peetwo]

P9 - Speculation - Just looking at the paddock, gee whiz, it looks (at least in the photograph) to be as rough as the proverbial badgers whot’s it. Tough job, lots of wind, probably wind shadows and shear, rough paddock forced landing would be bad enough, but in a very light aircraft – Even if the aircraft speed was back to ‘safe slow’ even a small bounce in 20 kts of head wind (quartering crosswind a nightmare) would have the aircraft in a difficult place – even with a donkey to do the heavy lifting.

The future of Tiger Moth Joy Rides looks uncertain after fatal crash

January 4, 2016 1:00am
Lexie Cartwright Gold Coast Bulletin

The future of Tiger Moth Joyrides at Pimpama is uncertain after a fatal crash. Pic by Richard Gosling

Investigation number: AO-2015-150

Investigation status: Active
 

• Summary
  

Summary

During the conduct of the flight with a pilot and passenger the aircraft collided with terrain. The passenger was fatally injured and the pilot received serious injuries.
A team of three investigators with expertise in aircraft maintenance, operations and human performance deployed to the accident site on 28 December 2015. Completion of the on-site phase of the investigation has been delayed due to the presence of asbestos within the engine compartment of the aircraft. Following specialist assessment and removal of the asbestos, it is expected that examination of the aircraft will be completed within the next few days.
 
General details
Date:
28 Dec 2015
 
Investigation status:
Active
 
Time:
09:30 EST
 
Investigation type:
Occurrence Investigation
 
Location   (show map):
near Pimpama Airstrip
 
Occurrence type:
Collision with terrain
 
State:
QLD

 
Occurrence category:
Accident
 
Report status:
Pending
 
Highest injury level:
Fatal
 
Expected completion:
Nov 2016
 
 
Aircraft details

Aircraft manufacturer:
de Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd
 
Aircraft model:
DH-82A
 
Aircraft registration:
VH-UZB
 
Serial number:
291
 
Type of operation:
General Aviation-Unknown
 
Sector:
Piston
 
Damage to aircraft:
Destroyed
 


Last update 05 January 2016

 

Update: ATSB investigation AO-2015-150 


Via Gold Coast Bulletin:

Investigation holdup into last year’s fatal plane crash at Pimpama on the Gold Coast 

Kathleen Skene, Gold Coast Bulletin
November 11, 2016 1:00am
 
THREE Days after what would be his last Christmas, Gary Turnbull was flying high above Pimpama on a joy ride in a sunny yellow antique plane when its engine slowed dramatically.

Five seconds later, the 1930s de Havilland craft hit the ground, taking his life and shattering those of his beloved wife and daughters.

Investigations into the crash that killed Mr Turnbull, 58, and critically injured world record-breaking pilot Ryan Campbell, then 21, were due to finish this month, but have now been pushed back to May next year.

This week, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed a Garmin camera retrieved from the wreckage contained footage that cut out 175m before the before the crash site, and that GPS data could not be retrieved.

What was recoverable in those fateful last moments showed engine speed began to decrease five seconds before the recording stopped, and that by the time the engine speed had decreased from its takeoff speed of 2010rpm to 1740rpm.

What caused the engine to slow remains unknown.

“The discontinuation of the recording prevented an understanding of the magnitude of the continuing rpm loss as reported by the pilot,” the ATSB said in a statement.

&..via ATSB investigation page:

Updated: 8 November 2016

A Garmin VIRB Elite video camera capable of recording video, audio and GPS data was recovered from the accident site and downloaded by the Queensland Police with assistance from the ATSB. Video and audio data from the accident flight was recovered, however the video footage and audio ended shortly before the collision with terrain. GPS data from the accident flight could not be recovered.

Analysis of the recovered audio data indicated that engine speed began to decrease 5 seconds before the end of the recording. By the end of the recording, the take-off revolutions per minute (rpm) of 2,010 had reduced by 270 rpm. The discontinuation of the recording prevented an understanding of the magnitude of the continuing rpm loss as reported by the pilot. The final frame of the recovered video data indicated the aircraft was approximately 175 m from the accident site when the recording ended.

The aircraft's engine was recovered from site and examined at a Civil Aviation Safety Authority‑approved engine overhaul facility under the supervision of the ATSB. The examination did not reveal any conclusive reasons for the reduction in engine rpm. The ATSB has retained a number of engine components for further examination.

The investigation is continuing and will include further examination and analysis of evidence obtained during the investigation

So not quite into the ATSB O&O Hall of Shame but the signs are ominous for this tragic investigation...


MTF...P2