Bird strikes 115
Wildlife strikes 16
Wire strikes 2
Date 14 November
Aircraft Robinson R44
Location Jabiru Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During the climb from a confined area on a hot day, the pilot received a low rotor RPM warning and was unable to recover. The helicopter collided with terrain resulting in substantial damage. The engineering inspector did not determine the cause.
Date 15 November
Aircraft Cessna O-1G
Location Moree Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During landing, the aircraft encountered a wind change and ground looped resulting in substantial damage.
Date 18 November
Aircraft Czech Pipersport
Location Jandakot Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During a touch-and-go, the aircraft ballooned and landed hard resulting in the nose gear collapsing and the propeller striking the ground. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Date 18 November
Aircraft Autogyro MTOsport
Location Moree Aerodrome
Injuries Fatal
Description During aerial work, the gyrocopter collided with terrain and the pilot was killed.
Date 19 November
Aircraft Jabiru UL
Location Menindee (ALA)
Injuries Serious
Description The aircraft collided with terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot and passenger received serious injuries.
Date 21 November
Aircraft Cessna 152
Location Bankstown Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During a dual training flight, the engine failed, and the crew conducted a forced landing. The engineering inspection revealed there was a total of 15 litres left in the left fuel tank that failed to feed into the engine. It is suspected that a non-vented filler cap on the left-hand tank was the cause.
Date 24 November
Aircraft Robinson R22 BETA
Location Alice Springs Aerodrome
Injuries Fatal
Description The aircraft collided with terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger was killed. The investigation is continuing
Date 25 November
Aircraft AMS Flight DG-505 ELAN ORION
Location Bacchus Marsh (ALA)
Injuries Unknown
Description During approach, the crew of the DG-505 Glider observed a Piper Aircraft PA-28 in close proximity on the same track. The PA-28 was then observed to conduct a go-around to maintain separation and the DG-505 continued their approach. No radio calls were heard from the PA-28.
Date 27 November
Aircraft Cessna 172R
Location Ballarat Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During a training flight, the crew of the Cessna 172 observed another aircraft tracking in close proximity on a reciprocal track. The crew of the 172 made a right turn to increase separation.
Date 27 November
Aircraft Piper PA-31-350
Location Palm Island Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During landing, the nose tyre burst resulting in the aircraft veering off the runway, the nose gear collapsing and both propellers striking the ground. The suspected cause of the tyre puncture was foreign object debris on the runway.
Date 30 November
Aircraft Beech A60
Location Maitland Aerodrome
Injuries Minor
Description During approach, the crew received an unsafe landing gear indication. On landing, the left-hand landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged and the pilot sustained minor injuries.
Date 30 November
Aircraft Cessna 182T
Location Moorabbin Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description The aircraft landed hard, resulting in substantial damage.
Date 1 December
Aircraft Air Tractor AT-802A
Location Warren Aerodrome
Injuries Minor
Description During aerial agricultural operations, the aircraft struck a powerline resulting in damage to the rudder. The pilot returned the aircraft to the airstrip. During landing, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft, which departed the runway and collided with a tree resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft and minor injuries to the pilot.
Date 3 December
Aircraft Aerochute International Dual
Location Innisfail Aerodrome
Injuries Serious
Description During take-off, the aircraft struck a wire and subsequently collided with terrain.
Date 5 December
Aircraft HPH S.R.O GLASFLUGEL 304C
Location Boonah (ALA)
Injuries Minor
Description During an out-landing, the aircraft struck a fence and collided with terrain. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Date 8 December
Aircraft Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20
Location 101 km WSW of Hobart
Injuries Fatal
Description During cruise, the aircraft collided with terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, who was the sole occupant was killed. The investigation is continuing.
Date 8 December
Aircraft Evektor Harmony
Location Jandakot Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During landing, the aircraft bounced, and the propeller and tail struck the ground. Pieces were observed separating from the aircraft resulting in substantial damage.
Date 8 December
Aircraft Beech 200
Location Mount Gambier Aerodrome
Injuries Unknown
Description During approach, the pilot was not visual at the minima and proceeded to land, resulting in a heavy landing. The pilot observed damage to the left propeller and was unable to stop the aircraft on the runway and conducted a missed approach. The post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to both propellers. The investigation is continuing.
All very serious, of course, but under Palm Island Aerodrome: “foreign object debris on the runway” … makes me wonder if there’s debris that’s not composed of foreign object(s)!
The C152 fuel starvation accident at YBBK on 21 November is the second such recent accident involving the Cessna fuel venting system. The other was a C172 at Wondai ALA on 14 April.
The system uses a common vent behind the LH strut which connects to both tanks. In case that is blocked, there is a secondary vent with a normally-closed check valve in the RH tank cap. These were a mandatory retrofit in early Cessnas but standard equipment on later production.
The obvious question is whether we have now an emerging age-related problem with the Cessna tank venting systems?