[Peetwo]

Bureaucratalia & the 4D aviation shame list - Part II

Reference off the Accidents - Domestic thread:

Update 17/03/17: Widow condemns CASA as 'incompetent' & 'dysfunctional' -

‘Incompetent’ CASA slammed

...Ms Black said the inquest by the deputy State Coroner Derek Lee showed the crash involving a Polish-built M18 Dromader was a textbook example of the Swiss cheese theory of accidents. This theory postulates that holes develop because of human error and dysfunction, and eventually they link up to cause serious accidents.

“In this accident when you go back and you look at all the holes that were lining up over a matter of 13 years, this aircraft was doomed. Had we known that we obviously would never have flown it,” Ms Black said. “When you go back through the ATSB report you can see the holes developing right back to 2000. In just about every single one of those holes CASA is involved. How CASA originally said you could use a flawed testing system (the eddy current technique) is unbelievable. It was contrary to what both the manufacturer and the FAA had mandated as the correct testing method.”

Ms Black’s solicitor, Mark Gray-Spencer of GSG Legal, said the evidence presented to the inquest clearly showed CASA failed to identify the fact that the maintenance company, Beal Aircraft Maintenance, and its non-­destructive testing company, Aviation NDT Services, was using the wrong method to test the attachments on the Dromader wings.

“Aviation NDT used an eddy current technique to test the wing attachments which was contrary to what both the manufacturer and the FAA said should be used. Both had advised that Magnetic Particle Testing had to be used,” Mr Gray-Spencer said.
“Six weeks after the approval from CASA for the eddy current technique was sent to Neil Joiner (of Aviation NDT Services), CASA issued an airworthiness directive (AD) stating that you had to use magnetic particle testing. This was inconsistent with the eddy current technique approval. The maintenance organisation should have looked at the AD and realised their procedure was not OK.”

An AD is a legislative instrument issued under federal law.

“For 13 years, from the issuing of the AD until the accident, the wrong testing was used,” he said...

And here is Pinocchio Gobson with the totally predictable zero care, zero responsibility, "we're looking into it" bollocks statement:
   
“CASA has been looking carefully at the Coroner’s report and recommendations. There are a range of issues to be considered and CASA is working through these methodically. We appreciate issues raised by the family are important.”

- That is word-weasel bureaucratese for.. "this will be O&O'd till we can quietly shuffle the report in to the infamous CASA shelf-ware out-tray"  -  

P2 comment: Gutsy lady Ms Black! - Welcome to the ranks of the IOS...

Julie Black;

“In this accident when you go back and you look at all the holes that were lining up over a matter of 13 years, this aircraft was doomed. Had we known that we obviously would never have flown it,” Ms Black said. “When you go back through the ATSB report you can see the holes developing right back to 2000. In just about every single one of those holes CASA is involved".

Unfortunately CAsA will come out of this squeeky clean because CAsA are Government, and Government are untouchable, too much money, too much power, too much freedom from accountability. It happens over and over and over.....

I wish this woman well, she deserves better, but unfortunately she is up against a formidable crooked empire.

A complimentary round trip ticket.

P2 – “And here is Pinocchio Gobson with the totally predictable zero care, zero responsibility, "we're looking into it" bollocks statement:
 
“CASA has been looking carefully at the Coroner’s report and recommendations. There are a range of issues to be considered and CASA is working through these methodically. We appreciate issues raised by the family are important.”

- That is word-weasel bureaucratese for.. "this will be O&O'd till we can quietly shuffle the report in to the infamous CASA shelf-ware out-tray"  -  

P2 comment: Gutsy lady Ms Black! - Welcome to the ranks of the IOS...

Welcome indeed. One of the reasons people can sit at home watching horrific stories of carnage, destruction, tragedy, fire or even aircraft accidents on the TV while eating their dinner is that it ain’t ‘personal’. Nowadays, folk rush off to ‘counselling’ after they’ve had a splinter removed from their arse and tell everyone who will listen about the trauma and how they intend the sue the council because the park bench surface was not ‘safe’. Why? Well it’s now ‘personal’. It’s the same with ‘CASA contact’; until the filthy spectre has tapped you on the shoulder; it ain’t personal. But when it does……Problem is that from the minister down, no one, except those affected ‘get it’. The vast majority of aircrew and engineers have never had the dubious pleasure of dealing with CASA other than in the routine way of medicals and such. DAME’s, Chief pilots, etc. all have had ‘the experience’ even then that’s a mixed bag: and, the 'go along to get along' syndrome has resulted in some truly awful aberrations; I digress. See Thorny’s post – HERE – for just a small part of the problem.  

P2 - “Ps "K" this may have to be moved to the 'Closing the safety loop' thread...

It probably should be mate; but you know as well as I the CASA response to coronial recommendations; they are treated as opinion. What did we examine when we did the analysis; some thirty or so cases? We selected just a few to provide a range and for all the good that hard work has done, we could have stayed in the pub; (practiced your darts).

HITCH - (Oz Flying)– “Only by the reaction to these truths can we judge the commitment of the Federal Government. However, we need to lift our chins and plod on; we have more hope of reform with the advisory group than we would have without them.”

Hitch and probably the GAAG understand the truth of it; but, what else can they do? The ‘CASA’ experts who have royally buggered the system and wasted hundreds of millions while getting paid handsomely to do so now expect ‘help’ from industry experts, who are not only doing it all ‘for love’ but taking time, resource and energy away from their own interests. Do they have to cooperate? Well I suppose they do; but its not the first time and it most certainly will not be the last time an industry advisory panel has laboured – in vain. History children, history. Not too far back – Pel_Air?, Forsyth? Ring any bells?

FWIW, I reckon the minister and CASA are taking the Mickey – again; same old tune, same old result. One may fervently hope for the best but it always most sensible to expect and prepare for the worst.

We wish Mrs Black well and any small support we can offer. The first part of this story is tragic and life changing; the second part is in the lap of the gods. Personally, I would not abandon all hope just yet, but I wouldn’t be holding my breath either.

Toot toot.

& with the latest on REX and the case of the missing prop?

Understandably there was much media coverage when a REX SAAB rocked into YSSY minus a propeller...

..Finally from the Oz, including the almost obligatory (nail in head) comment from Sandy... :

Propeller shears off mid-flight

12:00amEMILY RITCHIE

A Regional Express flight narrowly avoided disaster yesterday after a propeller sheared off the plane mid-flight.


Propeller drops off mid-flight

5:51pmEmily Ritchie

A Regional Express aircraft has been force to make an emergency landing at Sydney airport.

Passengers and crew aboard a Regional Express flight in NSW narrowly avoided death and disaster yesterday after a propeller was sheared off the plane mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing.

The REX airline plane SAAB 340, carrying 16 passengers and three crew members, was travelling from Sydney to Albury in the state’s south when its right hand propeller broke loose from the engine.

The pilots declared a PAN, which is one step down from a full-scale mayday, about 16km from Sydney airport at an altitude of about 6000ft.


The plane, minus a propeller at Sydney Airport after the emergency landing. Source: Twitter

“The prop has just fallen off the aircraft and standby for further instructions,” a man on the flight deck told air traffic controllers.

“REX 768 we’ve just had ... engine operations and our propeller has just shed off. We’ve got normal controls, still be able to fly, would require 1-6 right and we should be able to conduct a precautionary landing.”

The plane landed safely at its destination just after midday and no one was injured.
Byron Bailey, a former air force pilot who currently captains private jets, said it was very lucky the propeller didn’t swing inward and smash through the body of the plane.

“In the 50s, when they had all these propeller-driven airlines, there were cases of propellers flying off and chomping into the fuselage and killing people,” Mr Bailey said.

“They’re very lucky, because if a propeller came loose under power, it could be spinning at a couple of thousand revs a minute. Goodness knows what could have happened.”

The propeller has not yet been found and will be a crucial piece of evidence.

The aircraft was carrying 16 passengers and three crew. Picture: Grahame Hutchison

The Australian Transport Safety Authority and Civil Aviation Safety Authority are investigating the cause of the propellers detachment, with lines of inquiry including whether it was due to fatigue failure or inadequate maintenance.

Jason Middleton, an aviation professor at the University of NSW, also speculated if bad weather could have been a contributing factor.

“If it happened in adverse weather, that might have play a role,” said Professor Middleton. “A propeller falling off is very unusual. Unheard of in Australia, particularly in today’s world where maintenance is thorough and the requirements are well documented.”

Mr Bailey said it’s fortunate the propeller did not injure people on the ground given the flight path.

“It’s a very dangerous article. A big propeller heading earthward, particularly over populous areas, is very dangerous indeed.”

The aircraft’s manufacturer, Swedish company SAAB, has been contacted for comment.

The SAAB 340 model is popular worldwide, with Mr Bailey describing it as “perfect for low density, short routes”.

“SAAB would be very worried,” Mr Bailey said. “The 340 is well-designed and should be totally safe — it’s staggering. A propeller falling off its aircraft is a very serious matter indeed.”

---

Alexander
13 hours ago

A serious incident which will be investigated quickly but some comments are overblown. The actual risk of injury to persons on the ground from a propellor is very low. Talk of the pilots being extra skillful and not panicking is also unrealistic. The pilots are well trained to fly on one engine and don't panic, they just get on with their job. What is true is that with General Aviation in severe decline because of a regime of astonishing over regulation, by an out of control (Un)Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the ability to train home grown pilots and maintenance engineers is rapidly diminishing. Airline pilots are already on the 457 work visa list, you might soon be wondering who is flying you around Australia. GA has lost thousands of jobs for no good reason, what an extraordinary waste. Alex in the Rises.

 
And for comment from our immaculately groomed & coiffured NFI miniscule...

http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/ch...index.aspx


  

Once again we see an example, especially in matters of aviation safety, of why it is we are called the 'Lucky Country' - TICK..TOCK goes the Oz aviation doomsday clock, the question is who will be holding the parcel when the music (& clock) stops...