1 of 6 2/22/2012 6:26 PM Exonerated - Coroner finds Whyalla crash pilot "competent, professional" BY JULIA HODGESIN ADELAIDE 25 Jul, 2003 12:50 AM FORMER Ballarat man Ben Mackiewicz was yesterday exonerated from any blame in the crash of Whyalla Airlines Flight 904 which ditched in Spencer Gulf off South Australia more than three years ago. The South Australian coroner found that the 21-year-old pilot, who died along with his seven passengers while en route from Adelaide to Whyalla, was a "competent and professional pilot" and that "there is no suggestion that there was any deficiency which was relevant to the events of 31 May, 2000". "The evidence before me establishes that Mr Mackiewicz was appropriately trained and qualified to act as a pilot in regular passenger transport operations," State Coroner Wayne Chivell said in his report. "(He) was a professional pilot who was competent in handling emergencies... expert opinion is unanimous that he handled the emergency well, and that he ditched the aircraft as well as could have been expected in the circumstances." The findings handed down in an Adelaide court revealed that engine failure caused the twin-engine Piper Navajo Chieftain aircraft to crash. Mr Chivell said a lean fuel mix most likely caused the right engine to fail, while the left engine failed because of a manufacturing-related defect in its crankshaft. He said when the right engine began running roughly the pilot increased the left engine's revolutions per minute to compensate. "This was not `overboosting' the engine," the coroner said, refuting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's finding that Mr Mackiewicz had done so. However, just over 10 minutes later the left engine's crankshaft failed. "Mr Mackiewicz may have tried to increase power on the right engine again after the left engine failed completely, but this would not have produced enough power to maintain altitude," Mr Chivell said. The coroner found the aircraft was operating its fuel mixture settings under the specifications laid down by the Whyalla Airlines Operations Manual. He also revealed that six of the eight people aboard the tragic flight, including Ben Mackiewicz, drowned. The oldest passenger, 66-year-old Joan Gibbons from Whyalla died from multiple injuries, while the cause of Christopher Schuppan's death has not been determined. Recommendations in the 193-page coroner's report include that: *CASA make it mandatory that aircraft carry lifejackets and/or a life-raft whenever the aircraft is operating beyond the distance it could reach the shore with all engines inoperative. * Engine operating procedures in flight manuals for Piper Chieftain aircraft be reviewed to ensure accuracy of the detonation limiting conditions and clarity of all engine operating procedures. * CASA and the ATSB consider how lines of communication could be improved. Share on Facebook
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