Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
17/9/2022	OCC2962	Lucyvale	VIC	Jabiru	J230C	Jabiru	3300A	Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore Victoria Police are ...
Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore Victoria Police are responsible for the investigation. RAAus has offered our full support as they conduct their investigation.
17/9/2022	OCC2949	Muchea/Greenside Aerodrome	WA	Jabiru	170	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was established in the circuit pattern using runwa...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was established in the circuit pattern using runway 09 and making all relevant radio calls to report their position. They were established on base and about to make a call to turn final for 09 when they heard a call advising that there was a plane "rolling runway 27 for a straight out departure to the coast" which was in clear opposition to the direction of the established circuit pattern at the time. The pilot attempted to contact the second pilot over the radio, however they didn't reply and continued with their departure. The first pilot had to make an immediate turn away from the runway to avoid a collision. The second pilot of the other aircraft took no steps to ensure the area was safe prior to taking off - they didn't listen to any radio calls prior to departure, they didn't look at final or base (the first pilot was directly in their line of sight) and took off in opposition to the established pattern and didn't respond to radio calls directed to them. This was a chain of errors that could have very easily resulted in a mid air collision. DETERMINED OUTCOME: The reporting pilot was deemed to have operated in full compliance in regards to use of runway and VHF communications requirements. The incident has been referred to CASA for further action in regards to the operation of the other aircraft. Near miss events in the vicinity of non controlled aerodromes are increasing, and this is of significant concern for all airspace users. Vigilant lookout, confirmed serviceability of radio communications equipment as well as clear determination of operational runways are key elements that ensure both situational awareness and good airmanship are practiced effectively in order to prevent these types of occurrences.
15/9/2022	OCC2953	Muchea/Greenside Aerodrome	WA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During forced landing the student raised the nose during the...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During forced landing the student raised the nose during the approach, airspeed was below needed, the instructor directed student to lower the nose to regain airspeed which he did, but too aggressively, pitching nose down too far. The instructor intervened to raise the nose and applied full power but was unable to arrest the descent in time and the right wheel impacted the runway heavily. OUTCOME: Damage to aircraft during training due to a heavy landing. Student debriefed by instructor in relation to the occurrence after the event to ensure that they understood the implications of over controlling aircraft in close proximity to ground. Instructor to take a more cautious approach during training exercises especially when multiple attempts at he same exercise in close proximity to the ground.
11/9/2022	OCC2958	Townsville	QLD	Jabiru	J230-D	Jabiru	3300	Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore Queensland Police ar...
Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore Queensland Police are responsible for the investigation. RAAus has offered our full support as they conduct their investigation.
27/8/2022	OCC2925	Cosgrove	VIC	Jabiru	J200-B	Jabiru	3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Climbed to 2,500 feet and once level, the engine started to ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Climbed to 2,500 feet and once level, the engine started to run rough and stopped, then as the pilot descended to make a forced landing the engine started and stopped a couple of times during descent. The pilot landed safely in a grassed open paddock and subsequently realised they had not considered using carburettor heat during the glide to land. Pilots are reminded of the importance of regularly practicing emergency checks, and using these checks in the event of a genuine emergency, particularly when there is visible moisture (clouds).
9/8/2022	OCC2905	Port Pirie Aerodrome	SA	Jabiru	J160-D	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Whilst completing T&G's with a student they were on CCT #3 a...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Whilst completing T&G's with a student they were on CCT #3 and as the student pulled carb heat to on the handle came out. It looks like the carb heat wire has snapped. A/C has been grounded by us until fixed.
5/8/2022	OCC2902	Orange Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J160-C	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Jabiru was conducting a dual training flight. Shortly af...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Jabiru was conducting a dual training flight. Shortly after conducting pre-flight checks the Jabiru announced its intentions to enter and back runway 29, Jabiru backtracked the full length of the runway (which took approximately 3-4 minutes). As Jabiru lined up runway 29 (prior to making a "rolling" call) a Link Airways SAAB announced its intentions to enter and backtrack runway 29. Jabiru immediately advised SAAB of their position and their intentions to hold on the runway 29 threshold until SAAB vacated the runway. Initially, SAAB had difficulty communicating with Jabiru due to line of sight limitations, but after a subsequent transmission, SAAB turned around and vacated the RWY without any further incident.
24/7/2022	OCC2891	Gawler Aerodrome	SA	Jabiru	J160-C	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: RAAus received a report of a pilot landing an RAAus aircraft ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: RAAus received a report of a pilot landing an RAAus aircraft at an airport very close to last light. The airport was not equipped with runway lights and the pilot acknowledged they should have planned to depart earlier and account for forecast headwinds, which delayed their arrival.
22/7/2022	OCC2888	Barkley Homestead area	NT	Jabiru	SP470	Jabiru	2200A	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Jabiru departed EmKayTee (YMKT) first light with full win...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Jabiru departed EmKayTee (YMKT) first light with full wing tanks (135 litres) for a non-stop flight to Barkley Station (YBKS). A planned flight time of 5.7 hours. The pilot had been tracking fuel use via fuel flow meter ranging between 13.5 - 15 litres an hour which was as expected, however 27 miles on the 320 radial short of the destination at 2500’ the engine ran rough and caught again. The pilot immediately switched on the electric pump and focused on a landing area on the black soil before flying over a highly treed area that separated the aircraft from Barkley Station. The engine ran for another 10-15 seconds before winding back to 1250-1300 RPM at full throttle. The pilot had been monitoring the LED fuel lights for the last hour of flight as they were dropping into the red then back to one green bar continuously. The pilot noted the fuel indicators may be unreliable and prefer to use Fuel Flow versus take off fuel. The pilot declared a MAYDAY on area frequency and when they received no answer switched to 121.5 and retransmitted the MAYDAY. Response was heard from QANTAS international flight who contacted Brisbane on their behalf. After landing successfully on the desert floor QANTAS handed the pilot over to another aircraft. The pilot of that aircraft stayed in touch with the Jabiru and Brisbane Centre for around 5 minutes. After losing contact with that aircraft the pilot was still unsure if their position was fully known so they activated their beacon and waited for further contact to be made. They tried Brisbane Centre several times with no success and each time transmitted their position "in the blind". The pilot tried both area frequency and Brisbane Centre on the hour and half hour times to conserve battery life but received no answer. Approx. 3.5 hours on the ground they heard a helicopter in the distance and contacted it on area frequency to be notified they were coming to assist. R22 landed 5-6 minutes later and flew them to Barkley Homestead where they cancelled their SARWATCH by phone. They confirmed there was only 1 POB and the EPIRB was deactivated before they left the landing area. Once on the ground it was immediately obvious that the fuel drain for the header tank had permitted fuel to leak as the last litre had drained onto the desert floor and the remaining fuel (approx. 40 litres over 5.7 hours) had drained away in flight. At no time did the pilot smell any fuel leak. When the fuel total seemed to be low they visually checked both wing drains and fuel filter clamps and no obvious leak, visual or using smell was present. RAAus Summary: The pilot has managed this situation well, and should be applauded for both MAYDAY call and activation of EPIRB. RAAus encouraged the pilot to think about fatigue considerations for such a long flight.
16/7/2022	OCC2878	Streaky Bay	SA	Jabiru	J430	Camit	3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot completed a touch and go landing, then climbed out ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot completed a touch and go landing, then climbed out to complete one more landing. The pilot advised they should have deployed full flap to ensure good visiblity of the Single Wire Earth Return (SWER), but misjudged this approach and the aircraft clipped the SWER, resulting in damage to the aircraft and minor injury to the pilot.
8/7/2022	OCC2865	Lismore Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J160C			OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After conducting a crosswind landing during a period of dual ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After conducting a crosswind landing during a period of dual training, another aircraft was sighted off the right hand side of the runway in grass (within the runway gable markers). The aircraft was passed without incident and the runway vacated to await the departure of the aircraft. The new CTAF frequency (132.45) had been monitored throughout the flight and regular base calls made by the training aircraft. No transmissions (e.g. taxiing or entering & backtracking) had been heard from the other aircraft, and the aircraft was not sighted by the student or instructor during the final approach until after touchdown. No damage or injury resulted from this incident.
25/6/2022	OCC2859	Roseberth	QLD	Jabiru	J120-C	Jabiru	2200	Flying between Betoota and Birdsville at 1,500ft at approx. 18nm from Birdsville the engine started ...
Flying between Betoota and Birdsville at 1,500ft at approx. 18nm from Birdsville the engine started losing power only slightly at first (about 150-200 rpm) the pilot checked engine instruments and observed that the oil pressure was barely registering. The pilot reduced power and retrimmed and slowed to best glide and considered their options. They observed on their EFB that an airstrip was approx. 5 nm ahead. a slightly adjusted course for Roseberth airstrip but the engine was continuing to lose power and there was a sand dune or ridgeline between them and the airstrip and the pilot decided to rule that out as an option and decided to look for a more immediate option for an emergency landing. They made a mayday call on Birsdville CTAF. The pilot then made an emergency landing in a flat stony area of ground.
21/6/2022	OCC2847	South Grafton Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J230-C	Jabiru	3300	At the completion of a 1 hour local flight 3 touch and go circuits on runway 08 were performed at th...
At the completion of a 1 hour local flight 3 touch and go circuits on runway 08 were performed at the completion of which the passenger suggested one more circuit. As there was no wind the pilot changed to runway 26 and after completing pre take-off checks the take-off roll was commenced. The aircraft accelerated and initially climbed well. At approx. 50 feet the engine came to a very abrupt stop without warning. On lowering the nose the appearance of the remaining runway seemed insufficient but after very heavy application of brakes the aircraft came to a stop approx. 15 meters from the end of the runway. No damaged occurred to the aircraft or occupants.
16/6/2022	OCC2841	Ballarat Aerodrome	VIC	Jabiru	J230-D	Jabiru	3300A	While conducting circuits for approx. 0.7 hrs and having commenced base leg turn with reduced power,...
While conducting circuits for approx. 0.7 hrs and having commenced base leg turn with reduced power, fuel pump and carby heat on, and first stage of flaps the engine began running rough. The pilot suspected carby icing, applied full power while turning towards runway threshold. The communicated to other aircraft in circuit that they had an engine running rough and that they were deviating from circuit to runway. No increase in power, reduced throttle and under partial power completed landing. The engine remained running rough on roll out then stopped. The pilot communicated they were stationary on runway, then made a single attempt to restart engine using choke with no success. They then shut the engine down and pushed the aircraft off the runway. Fuel was noted to be dripping out from under lower cowl.
13/6/2022	OCC2839	Melawondi	QLD	Jabiru	UL450	Jabiru	2200	The aircraft departed Gympie AFLD about 10 minutes before intending to track to Warwick to refuel be...
The aircraft departed Gympie AFLD about 10 minutes before intending to track to Warwick to refuel before continuing to home location in NSW. Just trimmed for cruise at 2500' to assess nav settings and level. The pilot noticed a slight drop in altitude and thought the throttle might be loose. It was not loose, no response. All Ts and Ps looked ok. Then the prop stopped. A restart was attempted but the starter did not budge. The stopped prop was indicating an engine seizure. The pilot contacted another aircraft on 121.5 passed on their information and situation. They indicated they had ADS-B out for further accuracy as they were too busy looking for set down field to take eyes off the airspeed indicator and terrain. Set best glide speed. The pilot saw an airstrip below, but surrounding trees and orientation looked more risky than surrounding paddocks. An adjacent paddock was clear and attainable but on finals the pilot noticed it appeared to full of livestock, so they turned for paddock beside nearby house noting fences across landing path. Committed below 200' AGL had to avoid fences. 1 notch of flaps on base turn at 100'. Full flap near last fence with enough energy for slight clearance over fence. The aircraft immediately drop onto mainwheels on the downhill slope. Soft ground pulled up the landing roll to less than 35 metres. Nosewheel settled and dug into the soft ground tipping the aircraft onto its nose. It almost balanced there and stopped, then fell onto its roof. The only minor injury to the pilot at that point was a bump on the head on the Perspex skylight above (now below). The pilot lowered themselves onto roof inverted as seat belt undone and opened undamaged door to egress.