Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
6/7/2024	OCC3749	Batchelor	NT	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200B	The aircraft was refuelled to have 35 litres in each tank, with 45 litres required for a 2 hour dual...
The aircraft was refuelled to have 35 litres in each tank, with 45 litres required for a 2 hour dual navigation exercise. About 1.2 hours into the navigation, fuel was not flowing from the RH fuel tank into the collector tank. After about 1.7 hours into flight the red rectangle in the cockpit dash indicators came on, and the LH tank gauge in the wing indicated abnormally low fuel. The pilot decided to land at Mt Bundy airstrip. A check of the aircraft showed that the RH fuel tank cap had departed the aircraft. Fuel was transferred from the RH tank to the LH tank, and the LH tank then indicated sufficient fuel to reach the destination. The aircraft was flown to its destination without further incident. Outcome: The fuel tank cap must not have been sufficiently tightened, or the cap may have been tilted to the rear during tightening. A thorough pre-flight inspection must always be carried out.
26/6/2024	OCC3741	Lismore Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: On landing, the solo student bounced the aircraft 3 times fr...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: On landing, the solo student bounced the aircraft 3 times from a few feet up and on the 2nd bounce that is when the student believed that the plane tilted forward and the aircraft hit the runway with the propeller. The propeller and engine were still running fine, but upon taxiing to the hangar and securing the aircraft, the student noticed both ends of the propeller were damaged.
22/6/2024	OCC3733	Richmond	QLD	Jabiru	J200	Jabiru	3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While landing, the aircraft experienced a crosswind resultin...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While landing, the aircraft experienced a crosswind resulting in decrease in altitude from which the pilot was unable to recover.
21/6/2024	OCC3731	Gawler	SA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The instructor was conducting training on stalls and then PF...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The instructor was conducting training on stalls and then PFL. The PFL was conducted from 3,500ft. The student undertook aircraft checks and switched the fuel pump on. They then chose a paddock and headed for it. At approx 650ft AGL, the instructor was satisfied they would make it and requested a go around. When the student pushed the throttle up the propellor stopped turning. The instructor took control and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The instructor selected full flap and held the aircraft off as long as possible. They landed in the chosen paddock which proved to be freshly ploughed and very muddy. The aircraft came to rest upright and there was no damage or injuries.
2/6/2024	OCC3717	South Grafton Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J170-D	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was set up on final approach, airspeeds and alignme...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was set up on final approach, airspeeds and alignment to the runway were correct. Just before the pilot planned to touch down, the pilot felt the aircraft suddenly drop to the left and the left main undercarriage wheel hit and caused a bounce. The aircraft veered to the left and headed towards the grass runway area which was soft due to recent rain. The pilot applied right rudder and right aileron and began to apply full power. The pilot then realised that a go-around at that point could be dangerous, and the pilot pulled power off completely and turned the mags off. The aircraft continued to veer to the left and the aircraft touched the right wing on the soft ground just before the aircraft came to a stop.
23/5/2024	OCC3708	Nowra	NSW	Jabiru	J230-C	Jabiru	J230	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Recently-qualified pilot (without nav endorsement) departed Y...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Recently-qualified pilot (without nav endorsement) departed YSHL for local flight. The previous day the pilot and instructor had been to the 25-nautical mile limit to the west and southwest to view the landmarks. The pilot did not tell the instructor where they were going and the instructor was preoccupied with a de-brief of another student following a training-flight and did not ask the pilot their intentions, believing they would fly locally, do circuits, or possibly repeat the flight of the previous day on their own. The flight-school owner tracked the departing aircraft using "FlightAware" as the aircraft was fitted with a SkyEcho device which allowed tracking. Observing the aircraft apparently about to penetrate R421B the owner notified the instructor, who then began tracking using "Avplan". Data from the "Flightaware" app was real-time, the data from "Avplan" was slightly delayed due to internet latency. The depth of penetration of R421B appeared to be approx 1-2 miles. Both sources of tracking information clearly showed the aircraft inside R421B, at an altitude of approximate 3500-4000 feet and conducting random manoeuvres. The flight school owner attempted to contact the aircraft by handheld radio on two occasions but received no reply. After approx ten minutes inside R421B the aircraft was observed leaving and returning to the airport. The pilot was directed to the flight school owner to be made aware of their transgression. The pilot was fully briefed on airspace boundaries and altitudes and visual landmarks to ensure adequate separation for restricted areas in future. The flight school owner contacted the Navy to report the event and was awaiting a response at the time of filing this report.
18/5/2024	OCC3701	Launceston Aerodrome	TAS	Jabiru	J160-D	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Smoke was noticed in cockpit coming from under the control pa...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Smoke was noticed in cockpit coming from under the control panel after attempting to start the aircraft. Start was unsuccessful. Battery voltage was low on voltmeter. Battery had just been changed due to aircraft not starting earlier on cold morning. On noticing smoke and ensuring master switch was off, the pilot called for firefighting assistance.
8/5/2024	OCC3689	Shellharbour Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J160-C	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Last landing of a BFR, a full-flap short-field landing. Aircr...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Last landing of a BFR, a full-flap short-field landing. Aircraft sank rapidly when pilot reduced power to flare at threshold. A high sink rate occurred, the instructor applied power but left undercarriage struck the runway-step. Instructor took off immediately and gently lowered the aircraft onto the runway, noticed aircraft pulling slightly to the left but taxiing without undue difficulty and brake action was normal.
7/5/2024	OCC3690	Yakanarra Remote Community Airstrip	WA	Jabiru	J230-D	Jabiru	3300A Gen 4	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After starting up the aircraft the pilot taxied out to the ru...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After starting up the aircraft the pilot taxied out to the runway. As they taxied down the runway, they performed the runups to 2000RPM. The engine performed as expected. The pilot lined up and put the aircraft into take-off configuration. They smoothly applied full power, check the engine temperatures and pressures, all were in the green. they checked that the airspeed was alive and climbing. The pilot applied a little bit of backpressure and lifted the front wheel of the runway. The aircraft took off as normal. After take-off they raised the flaps and continued to climb out. As the aircraft was climbing through 350ft AGL the engine started to cough and splutter. The pilot turned back to the airstrip at Yakanarra and set up to land back on the strip. Now with a tail wind, the aircraft was too high and would end up through the fence. The pilot then tuned again back to the runway and pumping the throttle was able to get some power out of the engine. The aircraft landed back on the airstrip safely.
29/4/2024	OCC3680	South Grafton Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J230-C	Jabiru	3300A	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was conducting circuits and had made a downwind cal...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was conducting circuits and had made a downwind call on runway 26. They heard another radio call stating an aircraft overhead the field at 1500 to join circuit for 08. The pilot was puzzled by this as the wind indicated runway 26. By this time, the pilot was on base leg and then proceeded onto final and landed for touch and go when they saw the other aircraft low on final on 08 directly in front of them. The pilot had to take evasive action and turn away at approximately 100 feet to avoid a collision. They then proceeded to resume their circuit.
14/4/2024	OCC3655	Dubbo	NSW	Jabiru	J230	Jabiru	Gen 4 3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During the flight, the pilot heard a bang and the aircraft sh...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During the flight, the pilot heard a bang and the aircraft shook violently. At first, the pilot thought they had collided with a large bird. The pilot disabled the autopilot and checked the readings, and temps and oil pressure were normal but RPM was erratic. The pilot closed the throttle to idle and made an immediate turn for Dubbo. Approximately 15nm east of Dubbo airport, the pilot contacted ATC with a Pan Pan. After 1-2 mins the prop began to spin slower than the RPM and was causing an excessive sink rate. The pilot switched to a MAYDAY call as the airframe was shaking even worse and affecting controls. The pilot made an uneventful landing into a paddock. The pilot shutdown the aircraft and advised ATC of landing.
12/4/2024	OCC3657	Port Macquarie	NSW	Jabiru	SP6	Jabiru	3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot inadvertently switched off the master switch before...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot inadvertently switched off the master switch before the engine shutdown causing the alternator to overpower and fail.
31/3/2024	OCC3640	Esperance	WA	Jabiru	J120-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Before departing Caiguna, the pilot checked the TAF for Esper...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Before departing Caiguna, the pilot checked the TAF for Esperance and it was showing marginal VFR with a TEMPO (one hour of IMC) around Esperance. The pilot had planned to hold and wait for it to pass or thought the rain conditions would've passed by the time they arrived. When they were close to their Point of No Return ( PNR), the pilot attempted to check the radar on OZ Runways but had limited phone range so they couldn't get radar to show up. The Esperance TAF didn't indicate any significant changes so the pilot chose to continue. About 50 NM away from Esperance and long past their PNR, the SPECIs and TAFs started to rapidly change. The pilot contacted Melbourne Centre and requested they keep the pilot up to date with SPECI. The pilot saw a gap where the visibility and the cloud base looked better so they diverted based on past experience in the area. This was determined to be a bad choice as it placed them right in front of the rain band as it was tracking to the north. The pilot tried diverting to Grass Patch West but was cut off by low cloud. The pilot tried to track for Esperance twice but faced IMC so turned back. It was at that point the pilot was approaching personal minimum for fuel. The pilot started preparing for a precautionary landing on a farm laneway as the best option, declared a Pan-Pan and conducted an uneventful forced landing. ATC contact was maintained via relay with an overhead Qantas flight. After some time on the ground and with no contact with the owners of the farm, conditions improved and the pilot decided to continue their flight. Debriefing with the pilot revealed they later realised plan confirmation bias or expectation bias (that similar conditions had been experienced before in the area and the expectation was conditions would improve), led to "get-there-itis" or the tendency to continue on, even though conditions were deteriorating. The pilot acknowledged they should have made an earlier decision to conduct a PFL but were also to be congratulated for making use of all available resources including contact with ATC.
27/3/2024	OCC3627	Port Macquarie Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	SP470	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While performing circuits on an established circuit direction...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While performing circuits on an established circuit direction of 21 with two other RAAus aircraft, a Jabiru (reporting pilots aircraft) had heard a static filled radio call, barely discernible and thought had heard Taree in the call. Taree (YTRE) is 33 NM South West and shares the same CTAF frequency as YPMQ and it is common to hear aircraft with static. The Jabiru had begun a turn from base to final and observed previous RAAus Aircraft performing touch and goes and turning crosswind and then observed another aircraft (later determined to be a VH registered aircraft) taking off on the reciprocal runway 03. The Jabiru pilot made a radio call "aircraft departing on 03 Jabiru XXXX in conflict", while making this call, the Jabiru pilot observed the taking off aircraft now leaving the center-line and appeared to be turning west. The Jabiru pilot asked if the aircraft is turning, and the taking off aircraft replied "turning west now". The taking off aircraft was continuing to climb and veering West then Northerly. This stopped Jabiru from performing either a continued track on base or a Go-Around for runway 21. The Jabiru pilot determined that the taking off aircraft was now West of the runway but heading now northerly, continuing to climb, so with a Go-Around no longer viable, the Jabiru pilot continued on final without further incident. This occurrence has been referred to CASA for their review/investigation.
13/3/2024	OCC3600	Gawler Training Area	SA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Whilst completing solo training in the Gawler training area, ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Whilst completing solo training in the Gawler training area, the student was distracted by another training aircraft and inadvertently entered restricted airspace. A debrief was conducted and a pre area solo brief will be standardised for all future training area solos, including reminders of CTA steps.