Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
29/3/2022	OCC2777	Caboolture	QLD	Tecnam	P92 Echo S	Rotax		OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During an engine change, the replacement brand-new engine had...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During an engine change, the replacement brand-new engine had both carburettors gummed with a substance that prevented correct operation. The first alert was upon selecting fuel to the engine, the left-hand carburettor had a stream of fuel from the overflow. Both floats were stuck down and the needle was stuck full open. Upon disassembly at the direction of Bert Flood, the maintainer found a substantial quantity of a gummy substance and damaged o-rings throughout the carburettors. A full overhaul and clean of both carburettors was carried out and the engine operated normally.
26/3/2022	OCC2757	Whitemore	TAS	Jabiru	J160C	Jabiru	Gen 4	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An instructor and student were undertaking flight training i...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An instructor and student were undertaking flight training in the Training Area adjacent to the Launceston CTZ. On climb at approx. 3500ft the instructor observed an indication of no oil pressure. The instructor immediately reduced engine revolutions and the engine then stopped. No abnormal sounds or other abnormal indications were present. A successful forced landing was carried out on a disused airstrip at Whitemore.
26/3/2022	OCC2758	Lethbridge Park Airport	VIC	Skyfox Aviation	CA-25N Gazelle	Rotax	912A3	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A hole was found in the SCAT hose between the airbox and left...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: A hole was found in the SCAT hose between the airbox and left hand carburettor due to chafing against the exhaust. A wire in the right hand SCAT hose was found to be exposed in a similar manner. The defect was discovered while replacing the right hand muffler. Both hoses appear to have been routed incorrectly when previously replaced. The incorrect aircraft has had inspections performed by multiple maintainers previously and was not identified.
24/3/2022	OCC2751	Caboolture	QLD	Rainbow SkyReach	Cheetah XLS (Bushcat)	Rotax	912ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft was found to have a crack in the plastic skyligh...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft was found to have a crack in the plastic skylight. This may be due to the construction method, where significant force is applied to the rivets that attach the skylight to the cockpit frame. The aircraft owner has suggested to the manufacturer that the attachment of the skylight needs the inclusion of stand-offs to remove the load associated with riveting down the surface to the frame.
20/3/2022	OCC2747	Temora Aerodrome	NSW	Tecnam	Sierra P2002	Rotax	912ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During taxi prior to take-off, a strong smell of fuel present...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During taxi prior to take-off, a strong smell of fuel presented in the cockpit. After shutting down, it was identified the fuel return line through the firewall into the cockpit was leaking a significant amount of fuel. The fitting was disassembled and it was determined the rigid plastic fuel line had indented resulting in the collared fitting no longer fitting and fuel to leak around it. The line was trimmed and reinserted and this corrected the issue.
19/3/2022	OCC2750	Lakes Entrance	VIC	Zenith Aircraft	Zodiac CH 601 XL	Jabiru	3300	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was conducting a VFR flight returning from YORB ho...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was conducting a VFR flight returning from YORB home to YLIL when at approx. 20NM East of Lake Entrance, a sudden loud and continuous banging sound came from what they thought was the rear of the aircraft. Engine performance, temps and pressures were OK, so the pilot suspected aircraft something had happened to the aircraft skin possibly birdstrike or drone strike. Vibration in controls was a little more than normal so they slowed the aircraft from 75% power (105kts) to 60% power (80kts) and the vibration and banging decreased but only slightly. The pilot could not locate any damage to the aircraft in flight despite the good visibility through the clear Perspex bubble canopy. The pilot was worried aircraft aluminium skin was torn and coming off the bottom or tail of the aircraft. they resolved to divert to the nearest aerodrome YGRL. The aircraft descended from 2500 AMSL cruising height and made a straight approach to RWY26 with appropriate radio calls. The pilot believed the aerodrome to be open as they had observed a Beechcraft KingAir land there when passing Lakes Entrance Eastbound earlier in the day. An uneventful landing was conducted despite the continued banging noise. The pilot taxied off the runway and parked next to the Kingair and conducted a full aircraft inspection. They found the right wing rubber seal covering the join between aluminium wing and fuselage had completely de-bonded on 90% of the upper surface of the wing. The pilot secured the aircraft and made their way into town to purchase repair materials and made an uneventful flight home. The recommended adhesive SikaFlex 252 seems to not to have successfully bonded long term to the highly polished new paint scheme on the aircraft. It is suggested to sand off the paint shiny clear coat with finest grade sandpaper to reduce the paint surface to a matt finish prior to bonding the rubber seal with the SikaFlex 252 high strength adhesive to improve longevity of the paint/SikaFlex chemical adhesive bond.
17/3/2022	OCC2752	Coominya Aerodrome	QLD	Austflight ULA	Drifter A-582	Rotax	582/99	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: On return from a local area flight, the pilot decided on a t...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: On return from a local area flight, the pilot decided on a touch and go circuit. Approach was normal but floated longer than usual before touch down. After applying full power, they noticed a drone recovery boom was extended slightly over the runway marker cones and jib height was at 20 feet approx. The pilot decided to divert climb out to other side of runway. Perpendicular to boom device they looked down to ensure complete separation (well above height and to side) and angled back towards centre line of runway. The engine suddenly wound back and stopped. At this point they decided remaining runway too short before fence, road, and wall of trees. The pilot turned back towards cross runway but realised they couldn’t make it. Flying speed was temporarily lost but in nose down attitude, recovered and flared into paddock between main and cross runway. After stopping, they attempted an engine start and was quickly successful and taxied out of paddock area back to hangar. Subsequent inspection of engine internals shows no problems. Attention is now on fuel supply.
16/3/2022	OCC2742	Helidon Aerodrome	QLD	FK Lightplanes	FK9 Mk IV ELA	Rotax	912 - S	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Landing on a private airstrip in damp slippery conditions wit...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Landing on a private airstrip in damp slippery conditions with long grass, the pilot applied brakes, however the aircraft overshot the runway and skidded into fence gate sideways at low speed. The pilot noted for the future, completion of a low pass to confirm the runway conditions would be completed.
15/3/2022	OCC2743	Jindabyne Randall Community Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	120C	Jabiru	2200B	A student on their second solo flight taxied back to hangar after two touch and go and a full stop l...
A student on their second solo flight taxied back to hangar after two touch and go and a full stop landing, none of them heavy. As they approached the hangar, the right undercarriage leg slowly folded forward, the aircraft stopped and then settled on its right wing tip and tailplane.
15/3/2022	OCC2740	Murray Bridge Aerodrome	SA	Jabiru	LSA 55/2J	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft was in the process of completing a touch and go....
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft was in the process of completing a touch and go. After landing, and while steering toward middle of runway the aircraft skidded on loose gravel and departed off the runway to the left. The nose wheel dug into the surface and the aircraft flipped over. The pilot later reported a change in wind direction had occurred, resulting in a tailwind.
3/3/2022	OCC2734	Bunyan Aerodrome	NSW	Jabiru	J230	Jabiru	3300A	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Due to poor weather the pilot made a precautionary landing on...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Due to poor weather the pilot made a precautionary landing onto a private gliding strip. After waiting a period of days for the weather to improve, the pilot attempted to take off onto a runway which was only intended for landing. The aircraft was not configured correctly for a short field takeoff and the pilot did not abort the landing at their pre-determined abort point. The aircraft failed to get airborne in time and hit a stock fence at the end of the runway. The aircraft received substantial damage to wings, propellor, undercarriage and was trailered out.
2/3/2022	OCC2733	Murray Bridge Aerodrome	SA	Jabiru	LSA 55/2J	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft encountered an engine failure in the circuit. Bl...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft encountered an engine failure in the circuit. Blue smoke was seen coming from the cowl at approximately 200ft AGL after take-off. Oil pressure was in the green, however climb performance degraded so the pilot initiated low level circuit at 500ft. At mid-downwind the oil pressure had decreased to zero. By late down wind, engine failed completely. The pilot performed emergency landing upwind on runway 19 at YMBD. Review of the occurrence identified that a failure occurred to an oil hose resulting in loss of engine oil and engine shutdown. No noticeable defect was identified during daily inspection or pre-flight inspection.
26/2/2022	OCC2729	Lethbridge Aerodrome	VIC	Tecnam	P92 Echo Super	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While performing solo circuits on runway 10, the engine stall...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: While performing solo circuits on runway 10, the engine stalled on final approach at approx. 200-300ft. The aircraft was set for a full flap landing. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and turned to avoid trees at the end of the runway but the aircraft entered a stall. The pilot called mayday while on approach to the ground. The aircraft hit the ground at nose down angle and skidded to a stop. Maintainer has slightly increased the idle stop position on all FTS aircraft, to ensure the engine is not as easily stopped in mid air with abrupt throttle movements.
23/2/2022	OCC2730	Kirkalocka Aerodrome	WA	TL Ultralight	SiriusTL 3000	Rotax	912 IS2	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Approx. 10 minutes into flight, a cross appeared on the temp...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Approx. 10 minutes into flight, a cross appeared on the temp gauge and pressure was dropping on the oil gauge. As the oil pressure gauge was dropping, the aircraft began to slow up and lose altitude. The pilot pulled the lever back to get glide speed and the motor made a loud bang. They scanned the area for possible landing site and saw an airstrip and attempted a glide approach, wind was behind them. As they were about to touch mid airstrip they realised the strip was too short so powered on and the engine reengaged but at low power. They managed to clear trees at the end of the strip, banked hard right, then hard left in attempt to land on the road. Lined up the road but flared too soon and the aircraft stalled, hit the bitumen and bounced into the air. The pilot applied power but the aircraft was again very sluggish and the pilot could not straighten back onto the road and clipped tree resulting in the aircraft impacting the trees.
20/2/2022	OCC2724	West Sale Aerodrome	VIC	Skyfox Aviation	CA25N Gazelle	Rotax	912UL	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After carrying out minor maintenance on the aircraft, the pil...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: After carrying out minor maintenance on the aircraft, the pilot re-attached nose cowlings and prepared the aircraft for flight. The aircraft was removed from the hangar for start-up, however the pilot did not carry out a final gross error check walk around, as was their normal custom. Normal cockpit checks were carried out, as well as the normal flight control checks. The aircraft became airborne as per normal with climb power and the climb attitude was set. The pilot noticed the airspeed was very low and fluctuating and then noted they hadn’t removed the pitot cover. The immediate consideration was to land back but as there was probably enough runway available however, the pilot decided they needed to assess the situation before landing in a cross wind. Climb power was selected and the correct attitude flown for normal climb performance. The aircraft was climbed to 500ft and normal power settings and attitudes were flown by the pilot for a circuit, with GPS ground speed as backup. The aircraft landed without further incident. The aircraft landing gear was inspected for a possible high speed touch down and the pitot tube inspected. The airspeed indicator functioned normally on the subsequent take-off. The pilot noted the error probably resulted from mixing maintenance actions with flight actions and advised for the future they would separate these actions, to ensure all pre-flight actions were completed as normal.