Brisbane-Archerfield

Swearingen SA226 Metro II

Schedule:

Brisbane – Caboolture

MSN:

31-7712060

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

531

Captain / Total hours on type:

35.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft, with only the pilot on board, was being flown from Archerfield to Caboolture via the light aircraft lane to the west of Brisbane in company with another aircraft. About five minutes after departing Archerfield, the pilot radioed that he was experiencing problems with both engines and that he was in an emergency situation. The pilot of the other aircraft advised him that there were suitable forced landing areas in and around a nearby golf course. However, the aircraft continued and slowly lost altitude before rolling inverted and diving steeply into the ground. Ground witnesses reported hearing loud backfiring and fluctuating engine RPM from the aircraft. These sounds were accompanied by erratic rolling and yawing of the aircraft before it rolled to the left and inverted. The right wing was severed outboard of the engine as the aircraft impacted a large tree before crashing onto a road.

Probable cause:

Wreckage examination revealed that the fuel selectors for both engines were set at the auxiliary tank positions, causing fuel for each engine to be drawn from the corresponding auxiliary tank in each wing. It was established that the aircraft had been refuelled to full main tanks prior to the flight. Further, the pilot had advised in a telephone conversation with an engineer before the flight that the contents of both auxiliary tanks was 60 litres or less. All fuel tanks except the left auxiliary tank were ruptured during the impact sequence. About one litre of fuel was recovered from this
tank. Examination of the aircraft engines indicated that the right engine was under power at impact while the left engine was not. The mechanical condition of the engines indicated that they were capable of normal operation.
The following factors are considered relevant to the development of the accident:
- The pilot did not use a written checklist.
- The pilot operated the aircraft with the auxiliary tanks selected when the fuel contents of these tanks was low.
- The pilot failed to conduct a forced landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Mackay

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1993 at 0525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UZS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Brisbane - Mackay

MSN:

TC-320

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2670

Captain / Total hours on type:

181.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was operating a freight charter flight, cruising normally at an altitude of 20,000 ft (FL200), when, about 150 km south-east of Mackay, the left engine lost power and could not be restarted. During the subsequent landing on runway 14 at Mackay, the pilot attempted a single engine go-around when he suddenly had the (mistaken) impression that the landing gear was not down. He temporarily lost control of the aircraft but recovered to touch down on the flight strip to the left of the runway, some 500 m before the runway end. During the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

Probable cause:

The report concludes that the engine power loss was caused by failure of the fuel pump high pressure relief valve. The pilot, believing that the landing gear was still retracted, initiated action to avoid a wheels-up landing. This action was initiated too late in the landing approach for a successful outcome.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air near Biloela: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1985 at 0350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

VH-FDR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brisbane - Rockhampton

MSN:

LD-234

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

This aircraft had only recently been acquired by the company. It had a fuel system different to other aircraft of the same type in the fleet. On the other aircraft there were three detents for each fuel selector, On, Off, Crossfeed. On this aircraft there were four detents, Off, Outboard, Inboard, Crossfeed. The pilot had not previously flown this aircraft. After a flight time of about 110 minutes the pilot reported that both engines had stopped and he was unable to access fuel from the outboard tanks. When the wreckage was located no evidence of fuel was found in the inboard tanks. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

An inspection of the wreckage did not reveal any fault with the engines or fuel system which may have contributed to the occurrence. It was evident that the engines had stopped when the fuel from the inboard tanks was exhausted. A quantity of fuel remained in the outboard tanks. The day prior to this flight the pilot was briefed on the fuel system of VH-FDR by the company check pilot. The briefing was carried out with the use of the Pilots Operating Manual for the aircraft. Because VH-FDR was not available at the time, the pilot was not able to study the fuel management panel in daylight hours. It is not known if the pilot familiarised himself with the panel before commencing the flight. The aircraft is normally operated with the inboard tanks selected for takeoff. Evidence was obtained from flight documentation found in the wreckage which indicated that the pilot had changed the fuel selections from Inboard, about 30 minutes before he reported that the engines had stopped. However, the exhaustion of the fuel contained in the inboard tanks indicates that the selectors could not have been correctly positioned in the detents for the outboard tanks. Tests carried out found that if the selectors were positioned between the inboard and outboard detents, sufficient fuel, to allow the engines to be operated, would still be drawn from the inboard tanks. The reason the pilot was unable to access fuel from the outboard tanks could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 near Nagoorin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1983 at 0405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

VH-DIL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brisbane – Gladstone – Rockhampton

MSN:

402-0142

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in operating a night freight flight from Brisbane to Gladstone and Rockhampton. The pilot departed Rockhampton as a passenger in another company aircraft at about 2100 hours the night before the accident and was flown to Caloundra. He then flew VH-DIL to Brisbane and after arriving submitted a flight plan for the return flight to Rockhampton giving an estimated time of DEPARTURE Brisbane of 0230 hours. Before DEPARTURE, however, the pilot was required to await the arrival of another aircraft so that freight could be transhipped to his aircraft. DEPARTURE from Brisbane was made at 0301 hours and at 0400 hours the pilot reported the aircraft's position over Gayndah, the pilot was instructed to call on another radio frequency at 0410 hours. No further transmissions were heard from the aircraft. The wreckage was located two days later in mountainous terrain. The aircraft had impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. Subsequent investigation did not reveal any fault with the aircraft or its systems that could have contributed to the accident. The day before the accident the pilot rose at about 0730 hours after spending the previous night and day at a friends property near Rockhampton. He spent the day at leisure at the property before returning to Rockhampton in the afternoon. After dining at his parents home he proceeded to the airport for the flight to Caloundra. Before departing Brisbane to return to Rockhampton the only sleep the pilot would have had was about an hour on the flight to Caloundra and possibly another short period at Brisbane Airport while waiting for his aircraft to be loaded.

Probable cause:

The cause of the in-flight loss of control of the aircraft could not be determined. The pilot had had inadequate rest prior to undertaking the flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Brisbane: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1982 at 1201 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Reprographics

Registration:

VH-AYE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Brisbane - Brisbane

MSN:

411-0288

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2128

Captain / Total hours on type:

302.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4500

Circumstances:

At 1201 EST, shortly after taking off from Runway 10L at Archerfield Airport, the airplane crashed into an annex attached to a Thiess Contractors workshop located in Kerry Road, Archerfield. The accident site was 455 metres east-north-east from the departure end of the runway. The pilot and four workmen taking their lunch break in the annex were killed. The aircraft and the annex were destroyed by impact forces and the following explosion and fire. The accident occurred during a test flight following corrective maintenance. The aircraft had completed a periodic inspection on 23 December 1981 but, during the next 10 days, a problem was experienced with the control of the left hand propeller. Following maintenance on 4 January to rectify the problem, the pilot elected to test fly the aircraft prior to its intended use for endorsement training at 1500 hours on the day of the accident.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was that following a reduction of power from the left engine, the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The cause of the reduction of power was not determined. The accident may have been avoided if the pilot had employed the correct procedures following a reduction of power from the left hand engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89B Dominie in Brisbane

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-BIF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Schedule:

Brisbane - Brisbane

MSN:

6903

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport while completing a local training flight with skydivers. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Miles

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A41-4

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brisbane – Dulacca

MSN:

4048

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole aboard, was performing a flight from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport to Dulacca, Queensland. While approaching Miles, he encountered unspecified problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the single engine airplane hit power cables and crashed in a field. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 Express near Brisbane: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

VH-USE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Brisbane – Mount Isa – Darwin

MSN:

2309

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was late and departed Brisbane-Archerfield with two hours delay. Few minutes after takeoff, it entered an area of clouds with heavy rain falls. It entered an uncontrolled descent, spiraled to the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Belmont (Mount Petrie), some 13 km south of Archerfield Airport. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Henry Cecil Swaffield,
C/O Lindsay Stuart Marshall.
Photo: www.ozatwar.com

Probable cause:

Three quarters of the fin had been found quite some distance from the main wreckage of the aircraft. Nevertheless, the subsequent official inquiry into the loss was inconclusive.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Brisbane

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-85

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site: