Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
5/2/2024	OCC3560	Albany Aerodrome	WA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	Gen 4	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Aircraft suffered a significant loss of power while taking of...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Aircraft suffered a significant loss of power while taking off. This occurred at ~150-200 ft altitude AGL. Throttle was closed and aircraft landed with half flap on the remaining runway without incident. Engine continued to run at idle and subsequent run up to full power on the apron appeared to be functioning normally. The upper cowl was removed, inspection revealed nothing. Subsequent run up appeared normal. Five circuits were then flown without incident. This aircraft has a long history of suffering from carburetor ice. Relative humidity at the time was high 90s and sky was 3-4 octas of cumulus with bases at ~3500 ft. Under such conditions this aircraft is always operated with carb heat ON and that was the situation this morning. Start up, warm up, run up and take off were all conducted with carb heat ON however there have had previous similar events where the carb ice heat system was insufficient to prevent ice. In those instances the engine just ran a bit rough after take-off however in this incident the power loss was such that flight could not have been maintained.
1/2/2024	OCC3574	Shellharbour	NSW	Evektor	Harmony	Rotax	912 IS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An Evektor Harmony departed YSHL and tracked East towards the...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An Evektor Harmony departed YSHL and tracked East towards the coast. The pilot heard an RPT call “approaching from the South West”. They then heard them call "Overhead the airfield and commencing the NDB Alpha approach. Being unfamiliar with the NDB Alpha approach, the Harmony pilot replied directly to the RPT stating they were 5 miles to the East at 2,000 feet and turning to track South. The RPT replied "Roger, thanks for that, we'll be at the inbound turn tracking for runway 34" The Harmony is fitted with ADSB In and Out. The pilot observed the RPT approaching from the right on the Dynon Skyview screen and saw the aircraft visually 3 miles to their right and well above their height. The Harmony continued to track South and descended slightly. The pilot observed the RPT pass in front of them from right to left at what appeared to be at least 500 feet above them. Shortly after the RPT had passed and commenced a turn to join downwind Harmony turned left 180 degrees and tracked back to the North. The RPT made no further calls to their Harmony after the initial "Roger, thanks" to indicate there may be any conflict. The Harmony pilot observed the RPT make their approach and heard all their remaining CTAF broadcasts. The Harmony pilot was unaware at the time or afterwards that there had been any traffic conflict between the RPT aircraft and themself.
1/2/2024	OCC3558	Cootamundra Aerodrome	NSW	Tecnam	P2008	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While an instructor was performing right-hand circuits on Run...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While an instructor was performing right-hand circuits on Runway 34 with a student pilot, a VH registered Piper Warrior transmitted on the radio indicating their descent on the "deadside" of Runway 34. Due to the non-standard phraseology, the instructor requested clarification from the pilot flying the VH aircraft regarding their location and if they were on the western side of the aerodrome (which is the non-active side of the circuit for runway 34). The pilot flying Piper Warrior responded, stating they were to the east of the aerodrome at overfly height. Seeking further information, the instructor requested the pilot flying Piper Warrior to confirm their altitude, to which they reported 2,600 feet. At this moment, the instructor visually identified the aircraft executing a left-hand descending turn on a late right downwind position for Runway 34, contrary to the established circuit direction. The Piper Warrior’s trajectory posed a conflict with the prescribed circuit direction. Immediately recognising the potential collision risk, the instructor alerted the Piper Warrior about the instructors’ aircraft position relative to theirs. Subsequently, the Piper Warrior initiated a climb and passed overhead the instructors’ aircraft on a northerly heading. They informed the pilot of the Piper Warrior that the prescribed circuit direction for Runway 34 at Cootamundra Aerodrome is right-hand, to which they acknowledged. The Piper Warrior then departed the Cootamundra on an approximate westerly heading.
26/1/2024	OCC3556	Albany	WA	Brumby	LSA R610	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Defect: Both attach points of the wing have elongated holes a...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Defect: Both attach points of the wing have elongated holes and the wing was loose.
22/1/2024	OCC3553	Townsville	QLD	Bushcaddy	R80	BMW	R1100s	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The flight was to transfer the aircraft from the current hang...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The flight was to transfer the aircraft from the current hangarage to the new hangarage location. Take off and fight to height was uneventful, the pilot made a 5miles inbound call to land made, approx. 2 miles south of Ozler, when the engine stopped. The pilot checked fuel and attempted restart the aircraft however, this failed so they declared Pan Pan. The pilot was looking for landing spot (the old Flinders highway, now unused and unkept), none could be seen so they were aiming for possible marsh landing beyond any trees and bushes. When approx. 150ft AGL the pilot declared second Pan Pan, unfortunately they didn't have enough airspeed or height to clear the last row of chine apples and mulga bushes, they avoided a fairly large tree on right but hit in the middle of dense bushes and spun the aircraft 180deg and impacted trees, bushes and the ground.
21/1/2024	OCC3550	Muchea/Greenside	WA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	J2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Instructor was undertaking a Stalls lesson with a student...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Instructor was undertaking a Stalls lesson with a student. Approx. 50 minutes into the flight at a location approx. 15NM north of YGSD and 3500'AGL, after conducting a stall, the student attempted to recover using power but the engine only revved up to 2300 RPM and ran lumpy. The lesson was immediately terminated and returned to YGSD by the shortest route. After engine recovery steps made no impact on the engine performance, removing carb heat and then cycling the throttle made the engine recover power as per normal. The aircraft was landed without further incident and the aircraft was taxied back to the hangar. Inspection of the engine found that the idle mixture adjustment screw had worked loose to 3 1/2 turns from closed (should be 3/4 of a turn), and the O ring on the needle was worn which would have reduced the friction on the needle allowing it to rotate when the engine was running.
21/1/2024	OCC3551	Myrup Aerodrome	WA	Jabiru	J120-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot completed the usual preflight, runup and pre take-o...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot completed the usual preflight, runup and pre take-off checks. After that was done, taxied to RWY 04 and rolled out. The take-off was normal until they completed their ATO checklist at 300ft. It was then the aircraft lost 500-700RPM and the engine was running a bit rough. The pilot enacted their engine failure procedure and that was when they forgot to pump the electric pump on. They switch both carby heat and fuel pump on but no improvement, so turned them off. The pilot levelled out at 500 ft and pulled the power back to reduce the strain on the engine then turned crosswind and declared a Mayday on 126.700 (Esperance's CTAF) as they were close to the ground and if the engine quit, at least they knew someone would come looking for them. The pilot was looking around a place to land and RWY 14 came into view so they chose that over a forced landing as they felt it was the better and safest choice and they wanted to get on the ground ASAP because they didn’t know the cause. The pilot followed the normal landing procedure and landed on RWY 14 and broadcasted they were safe on the ground. Local L2 did an inspection on the aircraft and determined the likely cause was fuel starvation.
21/1/2024	OCC3569	Lake Ross	QLD	ICP	Savanah S	Rotax	912 IS 2	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A landing on 040 in variable wind resulted in a small bounce ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A landing on 040 in variable wind resulted in a small bounce at touchdown followed by a second touch that collapsed the nose wheel and ground strike to propeller. Touchdown was at around 35 knots and engine at idle. A short skid on the nose wheel occurred before coming to rest right side edge of the grass strip. No injuries were sustained an no apparent damage to fuselage occurred.
20/1/2024	OCC3561	Bindoon Super Light Aircraft Club of WA Airstrip	WA	Australian Aircraft Kits	Hornet Stol	Rotax	914 UL	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During take-off roll, a cross wind gust lifted the starboard ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During take-off roll, a cross wind gust lifted the starboard wing severely causing the port wing to ground strike, the undercarriage collapsed resulting in an uncontrolled ground loop into perimeter fence.
18/1/2024	OCC3607	Sunshine Coast Aerodrome	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Sling was inbound joining right base RWY 31 from the nort...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The Sling was inbound joining right base RWY 31 from the north. ATC asked the Sling to sight another Sling on wide right base to follow. The pilot of the Sling thought they had sighted the other Sling but mistakenly mis-identified another aircraft in the circuit. The second Sling was then observed turning final in front of the first Sling and once the error was recognised commenced a go around (without ATC direction). The other Sling confirmed they had the proceeding aircraft in sight and continued approach.
14/1/2024	OCC3544	Boonah	QLD	Tecnam	P92 TD	Rotax	912 ULS2
10/1/2024	OCC3539	Caljie	WA	LiteFlite	Dragonfly	Rotax	912	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A blockage in fuel filter suction caused fuel starvation lead...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A blockage in fuel filter suction caused fuel starvation leading to engine failure at top of climb after take-off, 600 feet AGL. The aircraft was close enough to return to land at the airstrip safely. Investigation found that the inlet of the in-line fuel filter was blocked by what looks like a pellet of mouse droppings. The pellet was the exactly the right diameter to stick in the filter inlet nozzle. Although the owner always uses a filter funnel when refuelling, it is conceivable that a mouse had left a deposit within the filter funnel outlet nozzle.
10/1/2024	OCC3542	Ballarat Aerodrome	VIC	Jabiru	J230-D	Jabiru	3300A	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A Jabiru entered the runway to conduct circuits, backtracking...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A Jabiru entered the runway to conduct circuits, backtracking and holding short for two 172 aircraft conducting circuit training touch and go's on left hand runway 23. The Jabiru departed 23 performing two circuits. Subsequently during their position on late crosswind a broadcast is head of another 172 joining the circuit on crosswind 23, followed by a broadcast of a 172 orbiting and remaining on the dead side of 23. By this time, the Jabiru pilot has turned downwind 23 and then broadcast their position. Looking to the left they did not see any aircraft so continue to the 45-degree position to threshold, broadcast turning base 23 touch and go, and continue onto final approach, with no aircraft sighted impeding their continuation. At approx. 250 feet AGL a broadcast of ‘Jabiru you are above me’ is heard. The Jabiru pilot immediately stopped descending and turned to the right of runway centreline and saw an aircraft pass below to their left maintaining approach to the runway. The Jabiru pilot instigated a go around and broadcast this action. Once established on downwind a broadcast turning base 23 touch and go is heard. The Jabiru pilot saw an aircraft on extended downwind commencing a base turn. They completed a few more touch and go's before landing. Each time observing the 172 aircraft were flying an extended downwind before turning on base. The Jabiru pilot had the opportunity to discuss this incident with an instructor soon afterwards covering issues of situational awareness, multiple callsigns on same aircraft type and circuit patterns.
9/1/2024	OCC3545	Muchea/Greenside Aerodrome	WA	Alpi Aviation	Pioneer 300	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Defect: During an annual inspection cracking of the aircraft ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Defect: During an annual inspection cracking of the aircraft frame was found at the welds of the landing gear.
6/1/2024	OCC3534	Beverley	WA	Airborne	XT 912-B	Rotax	912 UL	Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. RAAus has offered our full support to the WA Police as they ...
Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. RAAus has offered our full support to the WA Police as they conduct their investigation.