[Peetwo]

Prelim report released on Par Avion Islander crash. 

Via the ATSB AAI webpage: https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/inv...-2018-078/

Preliminary report published 4 February 2019

What happened
On 8 December 2018, a Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander, registered VH-OBL, operated by Par Avion, was conducting a positioning leg under the visual flight rules1[/url]] from Cambridge Aerodrome to Bathurst Harbour, Tasmania. The aircraft departed the aerodrome at 0748 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT),[] and was scheduled to arrive at Bathurst Harbour about 0845 to pick up five passengers for the return flight to Cambridge Aerodrome.

At 0829, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received advice that an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) allocated to VH-OBL had activated. AMSA advised the Tasmanian Police and the aircraft operator of the activation, and initiated search and rescue efforts. The rescue efforts included two helicopters and a Challenger 604 search and rescue jet aeroplane. The Challenger arrived over the beacon signal location at around 0925; however, due to cloud cover it was unable to visually identify its precise location. Multiple attempts were made throughout the day to locate the accident site, however, due to low-level cloud, the search and rescue operation was unable to confirm visual location of the aircraft until about 1900. The aircraft wreckage was located in mountainous terrain near the Western Arthur Ranges in the Southwest National Park. The search and rescue crew determined that the accident was unlikely to have been survivable. The search and rescue helicopter crew considered winching personnel to the site; however, due to a number of risks, including potential for cloud reforming, the time of day and lighting, and other hazards associated with the mountainous location, the helicopter departed the area. The aircraft wreckage was accessed the following day, when it was confirmed that the pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was fatally injured.

Position and altitude information was obtained from FlightAware, which recorded a combination of ADS-B and Spidertracks[4[/url]] data. The data showed the aircraft tracking to the southwest towards Bathurst Harbour (Figure 1). At approximately 0816, the aircraft entered a valley near the West Portal in the Western Arthur Ranges, and proceeded to conduct a number of turns. The final ADS‑B data point recorded was at 0828.

Figure 1: Track of VH-OBL from Cambridge Aerodrome towards Bathurst Harbour, showing the accident location

Source: Google earth and FlightAware, modified by ATSB

Site and wreckage
ATSB investigators travelled to Hobart, Tasmania as part of this investigation. However, due to the remote location and access difficulties, and other risks associated with the mountainous location of the wreckage, the ATSB did not attend the accident site. Investigators conducted numerous interviews, gathered relevant information and worked closely with the Tasmanian Police to gain an understanding of the accident. A number of items recovered from the wreckage and detailed photographs by the Tasmania Police forensic investigators will be examined by the ATSB.

Figure 2: Accident location of VH-OBL in the Western Arthur Ranges

Source: Tasmania Police

Pilot information
The pilot held a current Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) and had completed a flight review on 25 May 2017. The pilot also held a Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate that was valid until 26 February 2019. The available information indicated that the pilot had about 540 hours total aeronautical experience, with 82.5 hours on Islander aircraft.

Ongoing investigation
The investigation is continuing and will include examination of the following:

• recovered components and available electronic data
  
  
• aircraft maintenance documentation
  
  
• weather conditions
  
  
• pilot qualifications and experience
  
  
• operator procedures
  
  
• research and previous occurrences.
  

Acknowledgements
The ATSB acknowledges the support of Tasmania Police for their assistance during this investigation.

Why did pilot fly into valley?
ROBYN IRONSIDE
Nikita Walker had less than 100 flying hours on the plane that crashed into mountainous terrain in Tasmania. Her experience is now the focus of an ATSB probe.

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ATSB releases report into light plane crash in Tasmania


The investigation into a fatal plane crash in Tasmania last December will examine the pilot’s qualifications and experience, among other factors.

A preliminary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has revealed Par Avion pilot Nikita Walker had fewer than 100 flying hours on the Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander.

Walker was operating the aircraft on the morning of December 8, travelling from Cambridge Aerodrome to Bathurst Harbour to collect five passengers for the return trip.

About 40-minutes after departing Cambridge an emergency locator beacon was activated, triggered a search by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Tasmanian police.

Two helicopters and a Challenger 604 search and rescue jet set out to look for the site of the beacon in mountainous terrain near the Western Arthur Ranges, but were hampered by low level cloud.

The wreckage of the airport was eventually located about 7pm, but it was decided a recovery mission should not be attempted until daylight because of the terrain and weather.

The following day the wreckage was accessed, and the pilot confirmed dead.

The report said the aircraft had entered a valley and conducted a number of turns before the last position and altitude information was recorded.

ATSB investigators travelled to Tasmania in the following days but due to the remote location and mountainous terrain did not go to the crash site.

Walker, 30, started working as a commercial pilot for Par Avion in 2016, and had accumulated 82.5 hours on the Islander, out of a total 540-flying hours.

Par Avion managing director Shannon Wells said it was not appropriate to comment on the preliminary report.

After the crash Mr Wells said Walker had done all her training with Par Avion and was “well-versed in Tasmania flying conditions”.

In addition to the pilot’s experience, the ATSB investigation will examine weather conditions, aircraft maintenance, operator procedures and available electronic data.

A final report is expected by the end of the year.

On a lighter note a pilot had a lucky escape yesterday:

Plane lucky: pilot’s near-miss



ROBYN IRONSIDE

It made a heck of a noise as it smashed though a suburban back fence, but the pilot of this light plane — and the locals — had a narrow escape.

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It made a hell of a noise: Narrow miss as light plane crashes through back yard fence


A six-seater aircraft on a flight from Maroochydore to Toowoomba has crashed into trees in a suburban area of the Sunshine Coast narrowly missing homes.

The 38-year-old pilot of the Beechcraft Bonanza escaped with minor injuries after apparently losing engine power and radioing “mayday” shortly after take-off.

Palmwoods resident John Leach said he was in the shower at about 9am when he heard a noise he thought was a speeding car that had run off the road and crashed.

“I came out of the shower and my wife said she thought a tree had come down because we could see broken branches,” Mr Leach said.

“I thought it made a hell of a noise for a tree and we couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary so we went back inside.”

A neighbour then alerted them to the near miss, Mr Leach said.

“They said ‘you won’t believe it but it’s a plane that’s crashed into the trees’,” he said.

“None of us saw it happen but it looked like the plane hit the forest area with its wing and snapped off the trees going through, and that’s spun the plane.

“It broke the fall of the plane and probably saved the pilot’s life.”

He said it was possible the pilot may have been heading towards a vacant area around a lake, or the lake itself.

“I assume if you haven’t got any power it would be hard to control a plane but I think the forest would’ve saved him, by breaking the fall,” said Mr Leach.

“One wing was sheared off halfway through.”

Ambulance officers were on the scene within minutes and transported the pilot to hospital with minor injuries.

Flight aware data shows the Beechcraft Bonanza was en route from nearby Maroochydore Airport to Toowoomba, when the incident occurred.

The aircraft is registered to Toowoomba-based company Aircraft Solutions.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will decide later today whether the incident warrants further investigation.

MTF...P2