[Peetwo]

Prelim report released for AO-2018-066 training flight crash -   

Via the ATSB: 

Preliminary report published: 21 November 2018

What happened

On 5 October 2018, at about 1120 Eastern Daylight‑saving Time,[1] a Bristell Light Sport Aircraft, registered VH-YVX, departed Moorabbin Airport, Victoria, with a pilot and passenger onboard. The purpose of the flight was a navigation exercise in support of the pilot’s commercial pilot training requirements. The passenger held a recreational pilot licence but his aviation medical certificate was not current.

At about 1240, following an overfly of the intended waypoint at Stawell Airport, the aircraft was observed by witnesses to conduct a 180° turn towards the east at about 1,500 ft above ground level (Figure 1). Following the turn the aircraft was observed to commence a number of manoeuvres before entering a spin.

The pilot was unable to recover control of the aircraft before it impacted terrain.

Figure 1: Aircraft’s flight path and accident site location

Source: Google earth, with Airservices surveillance radar data. Modified by the ATSB
A witness at the aerodrome notified emergency services about the accident. Two other witnesses at the aerodrome utilised an aircraft to locate the accident site, and guided the emergency services to its location. The pilot and passenger sustained significant injuries and were airlifted to hospital. The aircraft was destroyed.

Site and wreckage examination

The ATSB conducted an examination of the accident site and wreckage (Figure 2). This examination identified that the:

• aircraft was located in relatively flat and open farmland, which was about 1.7 km south‑east of Stawell Airport
  
  
• ground impact marks indicated that the aircraft had impacted terrain in a relatively flat, upright, counter clock-wise spin
  
  
• flaps were in the retracted position
  
  
• elevator trim was in a neutral position.
  

No pre-impact defects were identified with the flight controls or aircraft structure.

A panel‑mounted avionics unit was removed from the aircraft and taken to the ATSB’s technical facility in Canberra for examination. The stored information was successfully downloaded and included numerous flight and engine parameters recorded during the accident flight.

Figure 2: Accident site of Bristell Light Sport Aircraft, registered VH-YVX



Source: ATSB

Ongoing investigation

The investigation is continuing and will include:

• interviews with parties involved in the accident
  
  
• analysis of the downloaded data from the avionics unit and other electronic devices
  
  
• examination of the pilot’s qualifications, experience and medical history
  
  
• assessment of the aircraft’s flight performance characteristics
  
  
• examination of aircraft maintenance and operational records
  
  
• examination of the training organisation records and procedures.
  

 
___________________
The information contained in this preliminary report is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB's understanding of the accident as outlined in this update. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this update.

 
And via the Oz this arvo Ironsider reports on the miraculous recovery of the pilot -  :

Pilot reveals miraculous recovery following training flight crash

Tarek Mohamed (right, centre) has shared details of his amazing recovery from the light plane crash that left he and fellow trainee pilot Michael Hawthorn (bottom left) seriously injured. Photos: Supplied

ROBYN IRONSIDE
AVIATION WRITER
@ironsider

A young pilot who was given just three days to live after a training flight crashed in Victoria, has shared details of his miraculous recovery.

On October 5, Tarek Mohamed, 28, was taking part in a navigation exercise with Soar Aviation pilot Michael Hawthorne, 40, when the Aero Bristell was seen to enter a spin, and plunge to the ground near Stawell Airport.

Both men were badly hurt and Mr Mohamed’s condition was listed as critical.

He shared a confronting image of his injuries on social media, and revealed that doctors at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne told his family he was unlikely to survive.

“They also said if I was to talk I would be really bad, and I would probably never talk,” Mr Mohamed said.

“I was deemed the ‘living dead’ and a quadriplegic. Within three weeks, I woke up and shocked doctors by moving my right arm and talking fluently.”

Despite his initial progress, the keen athlete revealed the magnitude of his injuries, with rods and screws inserted in his back and face, and multiple fractures to mend.

A preliminary report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau today, said there were no “pre-impact defects” identified with the flight controls or aircraft structure.

The report said the aircraft was found in an upright position with flaps retracted and elevator trim in a neutral position, in relatively flat and open farmland, 1.7 kilometres southeast of Stawell Airport.

Prior to the crash, the aircraft was seen by witnesses to conduct a 180 degree turn at about 1500 feet above ground level.

“Following the turn, the aircraft was observed to commence a number of manoeuvres before entering a spin,” said the report.

“The pilot was unable to recover control of the aircraft before it impacted terrain.”

As part of the ongoing investigation, the ATSB planned to interview the parties involved in the crash, analyse downloaded data from the Bristell, assess the aircraft’s flight performance characteristics and examine the pilot’s qualifications, experience and medical history.

Soar Aviation owner Neel Khokani yesterday confirmed Mr Hawthorne was flying the aircraft at the time of the crash, and had since been released from hospital.

Mr Mohamed is expected to remain hospitalised for some time, for treatment and rehabilitation.

MTF..P2