AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Transcription

1 Section/division Accident and Incident Investigations Division Form Number: CA 12-12a AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Aircraft Registration Type of Aircraft Pilot-in-command Licence Type Pilot-in-command Flying Experience Last point of departure Next point of intended landing Reference: CA18/2/3/9339 ZS-NHY Date of Accident 6 July 2014 Time of Accident 0820Z Dromader M-18A (aeroplane) Airline Transport Pilot Total Flying Hours Type of Operation Warburton landing strip (Mpumalanga) Warburton landing strip (Mpumalanga) Training Age 54 Licence Valid Yes 3 849,1 Hours on Type 4,4 Location of the accident site with reference to easily defined geographical points (GPS readings if possible) To the right of runway 35 at Warburton landing strip (geographical coordinates: S E ). Meteorological Information Number of people on board Synopsis Wind: North-westerly, 10 gusting 13kt; Visibility: m; Temperature: 14 C; Dew point: Unknown; Cloud cover: clear sky. 1 No. of people injured 0 No. of people killed 0 The pilot was involved in a local training flight at Warburton airstrip in Mpumalanga. This included circuits, simulated forced landings and full stop landings. He reported that during his fourth landing of the day on runway 35, the aircraft appeared to be unstable about the longitudinal axis and drifted to the right. He tried to correct this drift with left rudder and aileron input but to no avail. The aircraft veered off the runway to the right and struck large pine trees. The pilot did not sustain any injury during the accident sequence. The aircraft was substantially damaged, however. Probable Cause The pilot was unable to maintain directional control on landing and the aircraft veered to the right. Contributing factors The pilot s lack of experience in flying this aircraft type. The crosswind conditions at the time of landing. IARC Date Release Date CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 1 of 8

2 Section/division Accident and Incident Investigation Division Form Number: CA 12-12a AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT Name of Owner Name of Operator Manufacturer : PZL-Mielec Model Nationality Registration Marks : ZS-NHY Place Date : 6 July 2014 Time : 0820Z : FFA Assets (Pty) Ltd : Working on Fire : Dromader M-18A : South African : Warburton landing strip, Mpumalanga All times given in this report are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and will be denoted by (Z). South African Standard Time is UTC plus 2 hours. Purpose of the Investigation In terms of Regulation of the Civil Aviation Regulations (1997), this report was compiled in the interest of the promotion of aviation safety and the reduction of the risk of aviation accidents or incidents and not to establish legal liability. Disclaimer This report is produced without prejudice to the rights of the CAA, which are reserved. 1. FACTUAL INFORMATION 1.1 History of Flight The pilot, who was the sole occupant on board, was involved in a local training flight at Warburton landing strip in Mpumalanga. The flight included circuits, simulated forced landings and full stop landings, and the intention was to land back at Warburton. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) in daylight The pilot made use of runway 17 for take-off and runway 35 for landing. During the third landing on runway 35, the aircraft bounced. While taxiing to runway 17 for the next take-off, the pilot noticed that the right wing was lower than the left. He asked the dispatcher at the landing strip to check whether the right-hand main landing gear tyre was flat. The dispatcher confirmed that the tyre was inflated and the pilot continued his take-off for another circuit The pilot stated that during his next landing, a simulated forced landing with a goaround, the aircraft experienced turbulence close to the ground and he corrected for it. During the landing, the aircraft started rolling to the right, then immediately yawed in this direction. The pilot tried to correct the movement with left rudder and aileron input but was unsuccessful. The aircraft veered off the runway and struck pine trees. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 2 of 8

3 ZS-NHY accident site Figure 1. Position of the accident site. 1.2 Injuries to Persons Injuries Pilot Crew Pass. Other Fatal Serious Minor None Damage to Aircraft The aircraft was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. Figure 2. ZS-NHY after coming to rest in the plantation alongside the runway. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 3 of 8

4 1.4 Other Damage Minor damage was caused to a few pine trees at the crash site. 1.5 Personnel Information Nationality South African Gender Male Age 54 Licence Number Licence Type Airline Transport Licence valid Yes Type Endorsed No (see note) Ratings Instrument rating, Night rating and Test Pilot rating Medical Expiry Date 30 June 2015 Restrictions Corrective lenses Previous Accidents No evidence of previous accidents on file NOTE: The aircraft type was not endorsed on the pilot s licence as he was still in the process of completing his type conversion. Flying Experience Total Hours 3 849,1 Total Past 90 Days 12,3 Total on Type Past 90 Days 4,4 Total on Type 4,4 1.6 Aircraft Information Airframe Type Dromader M-18A Serial Number 1Z Manufacturer PZL-Mielec Year of Manufacture 1981 Total Airframe Hours (At time of Accident) 2 098,2 Last MPI (Date & Hours) 26 November ,6 Hours since Last MPI 53,8 C of A (Issue Date) 17 February 2012 C of R (Issue Date) (Present owner) 30 January 2009 Operating Categories Part 137 Engine Type Kalisz ASZ-621R-M18 Serial Number K C Hours since New 2 406,3 Hours since Overhaul 211,3 CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 4 of 8

5 Propeller Type PZL Waszawa AW-2-30 Serial Number W Hours since New 5 300,3 Hours since Overhaul 211,3 1.7 Meteorological Information The weather conditions at the time and place of the accident were obtained from the pilot s questionnaire. They were confirmed by a report received from the Warburton weather station. Wind direction Northwesterly Wind speed 10-13kt Visibility 10km Temperature 14 C Cloud cover Nil Cloud base Nil Dew point Unknown 1.8 Aids to Navigation The aircraft was equipped with standard navigational equipment as per the minimum equipment list approved by the regulator. No defects to the equipment were recorded prior to the flight. 1.9 Communications The aircraft was equipped with standard communication equipment as per the minimum equipment list approved by the regulator. No defects to the equipment were recorded prior to the flight The pilot communicated his intentions on VHF MHz while flying Aerodrome Information The accident occurred at Warburton landing strip. This is 1 400m long and 40m wide Flight Recorders The aircraft was not fitted with a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder. Neither was required by regulations to be fitted to this type of aircraft Wreckage and Impact Information As this was not an onsite investigation, the investigator could not determine the final flight path. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 5 of 8

6 Impact sequence Gear witness marks indicate that the aircraft landed in the middle of the runway and approximately 35m past the threshold. The marks indicated that the aircraft was in a three-point attitude on landing. The rate of descent was high, as indicated by a depression and flecks of yellow paint where the tail wheel struck the ground. The aircraft then bounced and touched down 64m down the runway whereafter it became airborne again. At 344,5m down the runway, there was evidence of the right wing striking the ground without any indication that the landing gear was on the ground. At 418,5m down the runway, all three landing gear wheels were on the ground. At 428,5m, the first evidence of brake application was visible. At 448,5m, the right wing struck a mature pine tree and the aircraft slid into a row of trees to the right of the runway. The aircraft came to rest 466,5m down the runway Medical and Pathological Information The pilot did not sustain any injuries during the accident sequence Fire There was no pre- or post-impact fire Survival Aspects The accident was considered survivable due to the low kinetic forces involved and that fact that the pilot was wearing his safety harness Tests and Research None 1.17 Organisational and Management Information The last mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) before the accident was certified on 26 November 2013 at 2 044,6 airframe hours by an SACAA-approved aircraft maintenance organisation (AMO) in possession of a valid AMO certificate The operator was in possession of a valid air operating certificate (AOC) and air service licence under Parts 135 and 137. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 6 of 8

7 1.18 Additional Information ZS-NHY was an agricultural aircraft adapted for firefighting. On the morning of the accident flight, the pilot was tasked by the chief bomber pilot to carry out circuits, simulated forced landings and full stop landings. As the aeroplane was a singleseater, the chief bomber pilot was on the runway and in radio communication with the pilot during the entire training flight Useful or Effective Investigation Techniques None. 2 ANALYSIS 2.1 Man Although the pilot was still in the process of completing his conversion on this aircraft type at the time of the accident, he was the holder of a valid Airline Transport Pilot s Licence. The pilot was in possession of a valid medical certificate with the use of corrective lenses endorsed on it. The pilot s total flying experience at the time of the accident was 3 849,1 hours, with only 4,4 hours on the Dromader. The landing was carried out at a high rate of descent, where after the aircraft bounced before it again made contact with the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft. During the hard landing, the speed might also have decayed to a point where there was limited rudder effect. The pilot was aware of the aircraft moving to the right during the landing and applied left rudder and aileron, but he was unable to correct the drift. 2.2 Machine Maintenance documents revealed that the last MPI on this aircraft was certified on 26 November 2013 at 2 044,6 airframe hours by an approved AMO in possession of a valid AMO certificate. After the landing before the accident landing, the pilot was of the opinion the right wing was lower than the left wing and suspected a possible flat tyre but a dispatcher on the ground confirm there was nothing wrong with the tyre. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 7 of 8

8 2.3 Environment At the time of the accident, the wind was gusting between 10kt and 13kt. 3. CONCLUSION 3.1 Findings The pilot was properly qualified according to current regulations to perform the flight The pilot had difficulty maintaining directional control during landing The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness and was recorded as being serviceable at the time of the flight Wind gusts at the time of the accident could have had an effect on the pilot s ability to maintain directional control of the aircraft. 3.2 Probable Cause/s The pilot was unable to maintain directional control on landing and the aircraft veered to the right. 3.3 Contributing factors The pilot s inexperience in flying this aircraft type and the crosswind conditions at the time could each have contributed to the accident. 4. SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 None 5. APPENDICES 5.1 None. CA 12-12a 11 JULY 2013 Page 8 of 8