[Peetwo]

Popinjay to the rescue: Part II 

In search of further details of the NT and Appin fatal crashes, I note that as yet there has been no accident occurrence (AO-****-***) numbers issued for both these investigations: Refer - https://www.atsb.gov.au/aviation-investigation-reports.

To be fair this is probably because most of the office staff normally responsible for inputting these notifications are on Xmas/New Year leave.  

However Popinjay (again to the rescue) did issue two media releases on the 26th with some limited details about both these tragic accidents:    

Appin NSW aircraft accident

Released: 26 December 2022

The following statement can be attributed to ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell:

“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into a collision with terrain involving a foreign registered Glasair Super II aircraft near Appin, NSW which occurred shortly before 3.00pm on Monday.

“The aircraft came down in bushland in the vicinity of Appin Road, where on-site emergency services confirmed the two occupants on board were deceased.

"A team of transport safety investigators from the ATSB's Canberra and Brisbane offices are deploying to the accident site to commence the on-site phase of the investigation.

"The initial ATSB safety investigation will include an examination of the wreckage, assessment of aircraft and pilot records, weather information and any available recorded data.

"The ATSB’s evidence collection will define the size and scope of the investigation and determine the expected timeframe for the completion of a final report.

“The ATSB asks anyone who may have seen the aircraft in any phase of its flight, or who may have footage of any kind, to please make contact via our website - www.atsb.gov.au/witness

"A report will be published at the completion of the investigation. However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties."

// Ends

NOTE: The ATSB will not be providing any further statements in relation to this accident until the release of the preliminary report in about 6 - 8 weeks time.



Background: The ATSB, Australia’s national transport safety investigator, conducts 'no blame' aviation, rail and marine transport safety investigations to help prevent the occurrence of similar future accidents.

The ATSB does not investigate for the purpose of taking administrative, regulatory or criminal action. Details on the ATSB’s investigation process can be found here: http://www.atsb.gov.au/about_atsb/investigation-process

Date
26/12/2022

And:

Arnhem Land aircraft accident

Released: 26 December 2022

The following statement can be attributed to ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell:

"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into a collision with terrain involving a Cessna 210N single-engine light aircraft near Bulman, Northern Territory about 240 km north-east of Katherine.

"The flight, with a pilot and one passenger on board, was reported missing to authorities after the aircraft failed to arrive at its Katherine destination on Christmas Eve.

"A search, coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, located the aircraft in the afternoon on Christmas Day with a debris field scattered over a large distance. Both occupants were confirmed deceased by Northern Territory Police.

"A team of transport safety investigators from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices are preparing to deploy to the accident site where they will commence the on-site phase of the investigation.

"Given the remote location, the ATSB is liaising with Northern Territory Police to determine the best way for investigators to access the accident site over the coming days.

"The initial ATSB safety investigation will include an examination of the wreckage, assessment of aircraft and pilot records, forecast and actual weather information, and any available recorded data.

"The ATSB’s evidence collection will define the size and scope of the investigation and determine the expected timeframe for the completion of a final report.

"A report will be published at the completion of the investigation. However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties."

// Ends

NOTE: The ATSB will not be providing any further statements in relation to this accident until the release of the preliminary report in about 6 - 8 weeks time.



Background: The ATSB, Australia’s national transport safety investigator, conducts 'no blame' aviation, rail and marine transport safety investigations to help prevent the occurrence of similar future accidents.

The ATSB does not investigate for the purpose of taking administrative, regulatory or criminal action. Details on the ATSB’s investigation process can be found here: http://www.atsb.gov.au/about_atsb/investigation-process

Date
26/12/2022

Hmm...this bit?? "..The ATSB will not be providing any further statements in relation to this accident until the release of the preliminary report in about 6 - 8 weeks time..."

Umm...so what the hell was Popinjay doing yesterday?? Plus we now get a further confession from Popinjay that the ATSB no longer adheres to ICAO Annex 13 SARPs...  :

Dispatch

7.4 The Preliminary Report shall be sent by facsimile, e-mail, or airmail within thirty days of the date of the accident unless the Accident/Incident Data Report has been sent by that time. When matters directly affecting safety are involved, it shall be sent as soon as the information is available and by the most suitable and quickest means available

While on the subject of Annex 13, I note that Popinjay says this in regards to the Appin Glasair fatal accident: “The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into a collision with terrain involving a foreign registered Glasair Super II aircraft near Appin, NSW which occurred shortly before 3.00pm on Monday..." 

Not confirmed as yet (ATSB has no details officially published yet??) but word is that the Glasair was "N" registered IE A USA FAA registered aircraft.

This means that Annex 13 para 5.18 comes into play:

Rights

5.18 The State of Registry, the State of the Operator, the State of Design and the State of Manufacture shall each be entitled to appoint an accredited representative to participate in the investigation.

This should automatically mean that the US NTSB should be invited to participate in this investigation, much like the NTSB did for the ATSB (State of Manufacture) with this accident investigation :

Accredited Representative to the NTSB - Collision with terrain involving an Arion Lightning aircraft, registered N60MY, near Zamperini Field Airport, California, United States on 30 November 2022



Summary

On 30 November 2022, at 1315 Pacific Standard Time (2115 Coordinated Universal Time), an Arion Lightning aircraft, registered N60MY, departed controlled flight on approach to Zamperini Field and collided with terrain short of the runway. The two occupants were fatally injured.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating this occurrence. As Australia was the State of Manufacture of the engine, the NTSB requested appointment of an Accredited Representative from the ATSB.

To facilitate this request, the ATSB as the Accredited Representative has initiated an external investigation under the provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.

Perhaps this is another reason why Popinjay made a personal appearance to the Appin crash? 

Finally from the UP I note the following post by Cloudee:

Media reports a witness saying the aircraft was revving out of control and not climbing. Another report that the aircraft had a Subaru engine. Aircraft fitted with Subaru engines that I have seen have had belt driven reduction gearboxes.

If this aircraft had a similar set up, a belt failure would result in symptoms reported by the witness.

https://www.aap.com.au/news/doomed-sydne...ental-kit/

https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-and-e...-c-9285544

Personally I hope the NTSB and the FAA do send some accredited reps to this AAI - 

MTF...P2