Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
10/1/2024	OCC3542	Ballarat Aerodrome	VIC	Jabiru	J230-D	Jabiru	3300A	With multiple aircraft operating in the circuit pattern including multiple callsigns in the same typ...
With multiple aircraft operating in the circuit pattern including multiple callsigns in the same type aircraft C172, the SA (Situational Awareness) of the Jabiru pilot was lost with another training aircraft on final until a broadcast was 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.
4/1/2024	OCC3533	Orange Regional Airport	NSW	BRM Aero	Bristell S-LSA	Rotax	912 ULS	First Solo flight after being checked by the instructor, applying full power, the aircraft was obser...
First Solo flight after being checked by the instructor, applying full power, the aircraft was observed to accelerate normally but once the aircraft reached the 500' markers it appeared to deviate abruptly from the runway centreline. The Senior Instructor observed a small amount of smoke from the main wheels and at this stage, the aircraft was no longer tracking on the runway centreline and headed toward the Northern side of RWY 11. By this stage, it was evident that the student had lost control of the aircraft and the SI ordered the student to "cut the power". The student followed the instructions immediately and the aircraft came to rest outside of the flight strip markers on the northern side of RWY11 (just past the 1000' markers). The instructor requested that the engine be shut down immediately as he proceeded towards the aircraft.
4/1/2024	OCC3565	Hopetoun Aerodrome	WA	Howard Hughes Engineering	LightWing SP-2000	Rotax	100 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: When landing, approx. 100m after touchdown at intersection of...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: When landing, approx. 100m after touchdown at intersection of the there was a strong wind from left. The pilot could not control the drift to the right, the aircraft mounted small embankment dislodging a 1m high bush before coming to rest.
31/12/2023	OCC3603	Sunshine Coast Tower	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Aircraft inadvertently entered controlled airspace. Outcome:...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Aircraft inadvertently entered controlled airspace. Outcome: Pilot was debriefed by the CFI and reminded to use geographical features to ensure airspace clearance prior to climbing.
21/12/2023	OCC3531	Archerfield Aerodrome	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During circuits, the aircraft propeller experienced vibration...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During circuits, the aircraft propeller experienced vibration. The pilot elected to immediately return to the runway. When throttle was reduced below 4000 RPM the vibration ceased. The aircraft landed safely without incident. On inspection it was found that the clutch tension to be within limits. The L2 was unable to locate any faults with gearbox or propeller and has since flown the aircraft with the instructor. The aircraft has flown a number of hours since with nil defects evident and believes the issue could have been attributed to some rough running due to some particulate's going through the carb. The carbs, and bowls have been inspected and cleaned as well. The L2 will continue to monitor the aircraft., but it has had a number of hours of operations since zero issues since.
19/12/2023	OCC3523	Heck Field Aerodrome	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	912is	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: When landing on runway 36, the pilot landed slightly long so ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: When landing on runway 36, the pilot landed slightly long so started applying the brakes. While passing over the cross runway intersection (which is at a higher level that runway 36) the aircraft got airborne again. The aircraft then landed heavily on the front wheel, the propeller touched the ground and broke the tip off one of the blades. The aircraft then bounced again and damaged the front wheel. The pilot continued to apply the brakes. The aircraft then veered to the right and came to a stop adjacent to the runway. Pilot and aircraft were compliant for flight and a debrief was undertaken by the school CFI. Subsequent runway improvements have reduced risk of these events with improved RWY profiling.
17/12/2023	OCC3520	Heck Field Aerodrome	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	912iS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During a touch and go, as the aircraft reached a hump in the ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: During a touch and go, as the aircraft reached a hump in the junction of 36 and 10/28, it bounced and veered slightly left. The pilot immediately applied full throttle and right rudder to go around. On their 2nd attempt they had a similar issue, this time focusing on holding it off a little longer to bleed some more energy, but same issue when they hit the bump. They applied full throttle and right rudder for a go around. The 3rd time the pilot decided to approach with a bit less energy to try to bleed it off before hitting the hump. The wind was coming for N/E as a slight crosswind. The pilot was happy with the approach, happy with the speed (65-67 knots) and happy with line up and touch down. Just as they brought the nose wheel down (while trying to apply a little back pressure to minimize the bump on the nose wheel), the aircraft jumped again on the hump. Not as fast this time they felt they could achieve a full stop as desired, however veered left catching the edge of the soft runway and losing directional control. The aircraft veered off 36 through the soft drain and into the aircraft parking area. The pilot applied maximum rear elevator to stop and was aware of the brakes / wheels locking up / sliding and using rudder where possible in an attempt to avoid a serious collision. The pilot stopped the aircraft just short of some parked aircraft and immediately turned off everything before getting out and ensuring people nearby were OK and the aircraft was OK. Pilot and aircraft were compliant for flight and subsequent runway improvements have reduced risk of these events with improved RWY profiling.
17/12/2023	OCC3530	Wongulla	SA	jabiru	J160-C	Jabiru	2200J	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft took off from YTFA tracked east to the river Mur...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The aircraft took off from YTFA tracked east to the river Murray then tracked south following the Murray at 1000 feet AGL. Just before Wongulla the pilot saw pelicans to left of their flight path. As they flew past them pelicans from above started diving across in front of the aircraft, one of them hitting it and breaking the windscreen. after the shock of the impact the PIC elected to conduct an emergency landing into a field. RAAus continues to monitor bird strike and wildlife reports at aerodromes to ensure correct ERSA/NOTAM information is in place and to enable reporting to the aerodrome proprietor.
15/12/2023	OCC3518	Hay Aerodrome	NSW	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2	Rotax	R-912ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was taking off to the north on an airstrip delineat...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot was taking off to the north on an airstrip delineated by white cone markers, 1.6km long. The centre of the runway surface was rough, so the pilot moved to the left side of the airstrip to where the surface was smoother as well as the direction that the wind was coming from the West at a 90-degree angle to the airstrip. While rolling the runway, they looked down to check instruments, and when they looked back up, the aircraft was close to the far left of the airstrip. The front wheel went into some soft soil and further pulled the aircraft off the runway onto a rough surface. The pilot pulled back power, and as they bounced on the rough surface, the front wheel broke, and the nose went to the ground. Once the aircraft came to a stop, the fuel, magnetos and ignition were then turned off, and the pilot exited the aircraft with no injury. The pilot noted as the runway was quite long, a better action would have been to taxi past the rough section and remain in the centre of the runway.
15/12/2023	OCC3517	Gawler Aerodrome	SA	Jabiru	J170-C	Jabiru	2200B	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot of a Jabiru chose runway 05 for landing, this may h...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: The pilot of a Jabiru chose runway 05 for landing, this may have resulted in a tail wind landing (approx. 13kts). an Instructor on the ground made a broadcast referencing the into wind RWY instead. The pilot acknowledged to land on runway 23, joined relevant circuit and competed landing. No other aircraft where airborne at the airfield at that moment. In the future the PIC will take more care when choosing the preferred RWY.
15/12/2023	OCC3519	Orange Regional Aerodrome	NSW	BRM AERO	Bristell S-LSA	Rotax	912 ULS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Two training aircraft were conducting circuits on RWY 29, a J...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: Two training aircraft were conducting circuits on RWY 29, a Jabiru and a Bristell. Both aircraft had instructors onboard and were making appropriate radio calls on the correct CTAF frequency to ensure safe separation in the circuit. During this period a ground vehicle identified as "Tractor 1" announced its intentions to enter RWY 11/29 for mowing operations. "Tractor 1" proceeded to cut the grass in between the 1500' markers and the threshold for RWY 29 (inside the flight strip and only a few metres from the sealed runway). As Jabiru turned base, the PIC announced their intentions to conduct a touch-and-go on RWY 29. At this stage, there was no acknowledgment from "Tractor 1". Jabiru addressed Tractor 1 and requested that they vacate the active runway for their landing. Tractor 1 responded by announcing that they would "hold their position" (at this stage the vehicle was on the edge of the sealed runway in line with the 1000' markers and inside the flight strip) Jabiru further advised Tractor 1 that they could not land with the vehicle occupying an active RWY, to which Tractor 1 responded, "you will have to go around". Jabiru proceeded to conduct a go-around and announced its intentions to do so. Meanwhile, Bristell had commenced a turn onto base announcing its intentions to also conduct a touch and go, this time confirming with Tractor 1 that they would vacate the active RWY. Once again Tractor 1 announced they would "hold their position" (on the edge of the sealed runway in line with the 1000' markers and inside the flight strip) The PIC of Bristell further clarified with the driver of Tractor 1 that the vehicle needed to be outside of the gable markers so that the aircraft using RWY 29 could actually land. The Driver of Tractor 1 then responded by saying "Well, the grass needs to be cut at some stage and this is the quietest time of the day, So I am cutting the grass!" (these may not be exact words, but pretty close). Tractor 1 refused to vacate RWY 29 forcing Bristell to initiate a go-around and both aircraft in the circuit had to reposition and land on RWY 22, given the prevailing conditions, this was a less-than-ideal runway option. Both aircraft proceeded with circuits on RWY 22 and landed safely without further incident. It should be noted that during this period there was no active NOTAM suggesting the runway was unserviceable, nor were there any markings indicating the closure of the runway. The PIC of Bristell (Senior Instructor on duty) contacted the head of aerodrome operations immediately after the flight and discussed the matter, to which the aerodrome operator agreed to talk to the driver of Tractor 1.
12/12/2023	OCC3513	Grafton	NSW	Just Aircraft	Highlander	Rotax	914 UL	Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore NSW Police are respo...
Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. ATSB are not investigating and therefore NSW Police are responsible for the investigation. RAAus has offered our full support as they conduct their investigation.
10/12/2023	OCC3514	Hay Aerodrome	NSW	BRM Aero	Bristell S-LSA	Rotax	912 ULS-3	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An instructor and student flew from YMMO to YDLQ, where they ...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: An instructor and student flew from YMMO to YDLQ, where they conducted a touch-and-go, then proceeded to YHAY where they made a full stop, shut down, and walked into town. They returned about 30 minutes later, shortly after conducting a pre-flight check where they confirmed they had 100 litres of fuel, started up and shortly after took off from YHAY. While the fuel pressure was slightly lower than usual but still in the green, they took off and flew for about 2 minutes, suddenly the fuel pressure started to drop so they returned to YHAY and re-checked the fuel to confirm they had 100 liters. They conducted ground run ups once again and the fuel pressure remained stable during ground run-ups. However, shortly after take-off, the fuel pressure suddenly dropped, causing violent shaking. The student swiftly brought the power to idle, landed, and as the aircraft touched down, the engine stopped. After restarting the engine, they taxied off, left the aircraft at YHAY, and called the CFI for assistance. OCCURANCE OUTCOME: Aircraft mechanical fuel pump was determined to be faulty and was replaced.