AHSA Newsletter October 2016 – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

1993 Socata TB20 Trinidad VH-JTI crashed 7km southwest of Kanangra Walls, NSW on 5 October 1993. After completing a TB-20 aircraft type endorsement at Nowra the pilot hired the aircraft for a return flight to Forbes via Bankstown. During the afternoon of Friday 1 October he completed the Nowra to Bankstown sector but had to postpone the flight to Forbes due to en route weather conditions which precluded flight under visual flight rules (VFR). On Sunday 3 October the pilot obtained area weather forecasts and an aerodrome forecast for Forbes which indicated that the weather at Forbes was fine but the en route weather was not suitable for VFR flight. The pilot was also advised that two helicopters bound for Bathurst had turned back to Bankstown due to poor visibility. Despite the forecasts and reports of adverse en route weather the pilot decided to attempt the flight to verify the accuracy of the forecasts which had predicted an improvement after 0900 hours. The pilot did not submit details of his proposed flight to the CAA, nor did he request a SAR watch or leave a flight note. The aircraft departed Bankstown at 0830 EST and after the pilot changed from the tower frequency there was no further radio contact with the aircraft. At about 0900 bushwalkers in the Kowmung River valley saw a single engine light aircraft flying in a southerly direction in the valley. The aircraft, which was not identified, was observed turning west to enter the Christies Creek Gorge. The unbroken cloud base obscured the tops of the ridges and the aircraft, which appeared to be operating normally, was flying about midway between the valley floor and the cloud base. JTI was reported missing during the evening of Sunday 3 October after it failed to arrive at Forbes. An intensive air search was commenced the following day. The bushwalkers did not report sighting an aircraft in the valley because a Sydney daily newspaper they had read incorrectly identified the date on which the aircraft was reported missing. The wreckage was located on the eastern side of the Boyd Range on Sunday 24 October by a bushwalker who was about 2 kms from the site on the opposite side of the valley. The accident site was at an elevation of 2,500 ft on steeply sloping terrain which was moderately timbered with trees 18 to 25 m in height. The occupants survived the impact forces but suffered burns from a fuel fed fire which started when the aircraft began to break up during the collision with trees. Several days later they perished from the combined effects of their burns and exposure after they had walked about 2 km down to Wheengee Whungee Creek.There were 2 fatalities. Sources: ATSB Aviation Safety Investigation Report 199303121; aviation-safety.net website

2006 BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk 84 VH-AKY broke up in mid-air and crashed 20km northeast of Bathurst, NSW on 5 October 2006. At about 1215 Eastern Standard Time, the pilot took off from Bathurst, NSW, for a 25-minute adventure flight with one passenger. The flight was intended to include high-level aerobatics followed by a low-level simulated strike mission. When the aircraft failed to return, a search was initiated and the aircraft wreckage was located in the Turon State Forest about 20 km to the north-east of Bathurst. The ground impact started a fuel-fed fire that resulted in a large bushfire, which took several days to contain. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The engine was producing significant power at the time of impact and the wing flaps and landing gear were retracted. The right wing and tail had separated from the aircraft. Separation of the right wing was precipitated by pre-existing fatigue cracking in the right wing upper main spar attachment lug. During the low-level simulated strike mission, the aircraft broke up in flight. The majority of the available evidence was consistent with a break-up initiated by separation of the tail surfaces leading to the separation of the weakened right wing. As a result of this occurrence, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) briefed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority on findings relating to the separation of the wing and tail. CASA has released a number of Airworthiness Bulletins to alert Australian operators of issues relating to Strikemaster and Jet Provost aircraft. CASA has also approved the Australian Warbirds Association Limited to administer aircraft operating under the Limited Category. Sources: ATSB investigation number 200605843; aviation-safety.net website

2007 The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mark Vaile, announced on 5 October 2007 a review of the relationship between CASA and the ATSB, with the aim of identifying potential areas for improved aviation safety outcomes through better co-operation and co-ordination. He announced that he had asked Mr Russell Miller AM, a senior partner with Minter Ellison to undertake the review. The review followed from the finding of the Coroner’s report into the Lockhart River crash of 18 August 2007. Mr Miller was to provide his report to Mr Vaile in December. Source: The Hon Mark Vaile MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Leader of the Nationals, ‘Vaile Announces Review of Air Safety Regulation and Investigation’, Media Release 158MV/2007, 05 October 2007. via aph.gov.au website