Occurrences

Date	Occurrence #	Location	State	Aircraft	Model	Engine	Model	Summary
18/2/2018	OCC1294	Coffs Harbour	NSW	Aeroprakt	A32 Vixxen	Rotax	912 ULS	Birdstrike DETERMINED OUTCOME: Animal strike data is monitored through the RAAus OMS to assist in...
Birdstrike DETERMINED OUTCOME: Animal strike data is monitored through the RAAus OMS to assist in identifying problem areas. This is an isolated event and has been captured for statistical purposes.
16/2/2018	OCC1293	Wollongong Airport	NSW	jabiru	J230	jabiru	33A	The pilot of a Jabiru taxied from the hanger to the run up area near HARS with the plane facing appr...
The pilot of a Jabiru taxied from the hanger to the run up area near HARS with the plane facing approximately south, the same direction as an RPT landed. The pilot did the engine run up, carb heat, set trim etc., then radioed their intent to backtrack RWY08 and inched the Jabiru turning about 60 degrees and as they did they saw the RPT rolling out after landing on RWY 16 and simultaneously heard their call. The Jabiru stopped short of the RWY holding point marker. The RPT pilot asked if the Jabiru had heard the RPTs earlier call, the reply was no. The Jabiru moved to the east to clear the TWY, RPT said it had clearance and the Jabiru then backtracked RWY 08 and proceeded the flight. DETERMINED OUTCOME: This occurrence highlights the importance of maintaining a listening watch on the CTAF frequency. Where there is any potential for confusion or doubt pilots should consider confirming or speaking in plain language over the radio to remove any uncertainty. Pilot should always check the runway and approach paths before entering or crossing a runway even though a transmission has been made and no reply received.
16/2/2018	OCC1301	Caloundra Airport	QLD	The Airplane Factory	Sling 2 LSA	Rotax	912 iS	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: DEFECT: Aircraft undergoing a 100 hourly - discovered a crack...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: DEFECT: Aircraft undergoing a 100 hourly - discovered a crack in a propeller blade shank/base, parallel with the edge of the hub/blade clamp area on the leading side of the blade. Hairline crack 25mm long was in the aluminium sheath/clamping collar on the base of the blade just outside the edge of the hub. Propeller removed from service. OUTCOME: RAAus technical team engaged with the manufacturer and has requested that they improve the quality of future propellers fitted to this aircraft.
16/2/2018	OCC1291	Wangaratta Airport	VIC	Tecnam	Barvo	Rotax	912 ULS	While stationary on movement area with park brake on before start-up the aircraft was hit from behin...
While stationary on movement area with park brake on before start-up the aircraft was hit from behind. A VH registered RV6 taxied into the Tecnam causing severe damage to RH stabilator and minor damage to fin. Fuselage from the Tecnam came to rest on top of the LH wing of API. API sustained propeller, spinner and LH wing leading edge damage. No persons were injured in the incident. DETERMINED OUTCOME: This matter has been referred to CASA Sport.
16/2/2018	OCC1290	Bankstown	NSW	Bristell	NG5	Rotax	912 ULS	During flight training, the aircraft was about to turn downwind and climbing through 900ft. At this...
During flight training, the aircraft was about to turn downwind and climbing through 900ft. At this point The instructor heard the engine RPM drop to an unsafe power setting so took command and whilst turning downwind and levelling out at 1000ft, attempted to trouble shoot as they had lost power and were continuing to do so. The instructor declared a PANPAN call requiring immediate preference to land RWY 29L. From this point they decided to glide into land and not rely on power and landed safely with no further incident, also taxiing off the runway using the aircraft's inertia.
14/2/2018	OCC1292	Wollongong	NSW	Jabiru	J160C	Jabiru	2200	OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: DEFECT: Metal particulate found in oil filter during a routin...
OCCURRENCE DETAILS SUBMITTED TO RAAUS: DEFECT: Metal particulate found in oil filter during a routine oil change. Upon investigation it was found that a piston circlip on number 3 piston had broken resulting in the gudgeon pin becoming loose and rubbing on the edge of the crankcase. After consulting manufacturer, a decision was made to remove engine from service and return to manufacturer for repair and further investigation. DETERMINED OUTCOME: This occurrence has been referred to CASA engineering and airworthiness branch and the manufacturer for further monitoring and action where required.
12/2/2018	OCC1288	Private Airfield, Bluewater	QLD	Aeroprakt	A22LS Foxbat	Rotax	912ULS	The aircraft landed roughly resulting in damage to the nose wheel. Determined Outcome: Pilot has ...
The aircraft landed roughly resulting in damage to the nose wheel. Determined Outcome: Pilot has undertaken 4 hours of flight review work with more revision work scheduled. PIC acknowledged that was habitually approaching slower in his flying and flaring too high. Remedial actions by pilot are satisfactory for review purposes. NFA Ops.
11/2/2018	OCC1285	Chinchilla	QLD	Kolb	Mark III Xtra	Rotax	912A	While completing a 3-point landing in a tail wheel aircraft on a private grass air-strip, the tail w...
While completing a 3-point landing in a tail wheel aircraft on a private grass air-strip, the tail wheel assembly cracked and broke away from the tail of the aircraft. The aircraft tail skidded along the ground dragging the tail wheel assembly by the connecting chains. The tail wheel assembly contacted and damaged the rudder and elevator control surfaces. DETERMINED OUTCOME: It is likely that the tail-wheel assembly which used a 3/4" solid aluminium rod to attach the wheel to the fuselage boom may have become work-hardened over time, causing it to crack rather than flex as intended. This will be replaced with a spring steel option.
11/2/2018	OCC1287	Orange Airport	NSW	Jabiru	J160C	Jabiru	2200B	The pilot PIC took off downwind and aborted take-off, overshooting runway and colliding with a fence...
The pilot PIC took off downwind and aborted take-off, overshooting runway and colliding with a fence resulting in aircraft overturning. OUTCOME: Operations investigation revealed some deficiencies during training and have provided the required remediation to the member and associated flight training school.
11/2/2018	OCC1281	Bankstown Airport	NSW	BRM Aero	Bristell	Rotax	912 ULS	After applying full power on the runway for a normal touch and go, the aircraft began to skid. The i...
After applying full power on the runway for a normal touch and go, the aircraft began to skid. The instructor took over from the student and verified that no brakes were applied and aborted the take-off whilst maintaining directional control. Aircraft had sustained a nose wheel collapse preventing rotation of the wheel
11/2/2018	OCC1283	St George	QLD	Aeroprakt	A32 Vixxen	Rotax	912 ULS	After refueling the aircraft with 20L of PULP which was put into the left fuel tank from a jerry can...
After refueling the aircraft with 20L of PULP which was put into the left fuel tank from a jerry can using a filtering water trapping funnel. Fuel drain was then immediately checked with nil abnormalities, and again 10 minutes later two further fuel drains revealed no abnormalities. After take-off, due to the temperature being quite warm the pilot had planned on climbing to 6500ft. At 4500ft there was loud bang/snap noise and the engine began to vibrate and shake. The pilot reduced the throttle to idle, made an emergency call and because of the altitude and the westerly wind made the decision to turn back to YSGE for an emergency landing. The pilot flew parallel to the RWY and due to the engines behavior elected to turn both ignition switches off. The aircraft reached the eastern most end of the bitumen approx. 1NM S of the strip. The pilot then applied 10 degrees of flap and made a gentle descending U-turn setting up the approach for the RWY into the wind, because of this wind the aircraft was approx. 0.5NM from the end of the runway at 1000ft. Using a side slip method, the aircraft touched down on the keys with a very smooth landing. DETERMINED OUTCOME: The RAAus Technical Manager attended the engine tear down and it was identified that the inlet value from number one cylinder ended up in no 3 cylinder. Crank was found to have a 1/2mm twist. A representative from the Rotax factory attended and viewed the torn down engine. It appears that a manufacturing fault had occurred to a push rod and this part some how made its way into the engine. The push rod has then failed which caused the rocker and valve not to operate correctly and the engine then seized. Rotax to review how this error occurred internally and will supply and fit an new 912 to the effected owner of the LSA
10/2/2018	OCC1295	Caboolture	QLD	Jabiru	J230D	Jabiru	3300A	After an uneventful flight to Caloundra and Glass House Mountains area the aircraft joined the circu...
After an uneventful flight to Caloundra and Glass House Mountains area the aircraft joined the circuit for RWY 30 and commenced to carry out touch and goes in the circuit. Due to a wind change so the aircraft moved to RWY 06 to do a touch and go. That touch and go was uneventful to that point and the pilot proceeded to take off again but noticed on climb out that it took longer to reach 500ft for the first turn. The engine was observed to be running rough and on turning onto crosswind I noted there was loss of power with revs down to 2,600 and the aircraft was vibrating/shaking from the rough running engine. The pilot checked that the carby heat control was closed and then immediately applied carby heat. This action made no difference and the engine continued running rough and still at only around 2,600 rpm so they closed the carby heat control to cold. The pilot continued on with the FCOST checks but nothing else seemed to be obvious apart from a slightly high oil temperature and the rough running engine continued. The pilot checked around them and kept flying down wind maintaining 600ft for the closest RWY being 12. A PanPan call was made to alert Caboolture Traffic of the partial loss of engine power and advised Caboolture Traffic on 125.85 that the pilot needed the immediate use of RWY 12 as other traffic was using RWY 06. The pilot continued downwind for RWY 12 with the available power and made a glide approach and uneventful landing on RWY 12. Determined Outcome: The fitted engine was a first generation Gen 4. The detected fault was a crack in the head of the No 5 cylinder. Jabiru identified that this may have been caused by a machining flaw during manufacturing. Jabiru have identified other engines that may have been affected and supplied modified head/barrel assemblies to the aircraft owners.
10/2/2018	OCC1286	Maryborough	QLD	Evektor	Sportstar	Rotax	912 ULS	Approx. 10mins after take off the GPS started flickering on & off. Then about 10secs after that the ...
Approx. 10mins after take off the GPS started flickering on & off. Then about 10secs after that the entire electrical system failed. The PIC had the PAX text messaged the instructor at Maryborough to see if clear to land. The aircraft landed uneventfully. DETERMINED OUTCOME: This was an electrical fault caused by a voltage regulator becoming inoperable. This is an issue that cannot be detected and can happen at any time. Rotax are aware of the continual voltage regulator issues. Due to time in service its impossible to determine the length of service or operational conditions this part has been exposed to. Pilot and pax handled situation correctly.
10/2/2018	OCC1282	1KM West of Tumut Airfield	NSW	Jabiru	J170c	Jabiru	2200B	The pilot called inbound at 10mi out and had no reply, so started to descend from 5500ft. The pilot ...
The pilot called inbound at 10mi out and had no reply, so started to descend from 5500ft. The pilot positioned the aircraft west of and parallel to the strip about 1Km from the centre line and descending through about 2200ft for a mid-field cross wind joining pattern for RWY17 at 1900ft. The pilot passed the 17 threshold and had been checking the strip on the left, when they looked forward again in preparation to turn crosswind a trike with 2 on board flew past the starboard side, (heading North). The pilot first saw the trike at about the 1-2 o'clock position at their level less than 50m from them. After they passed the pilot heard no communication from the other pilot. OUTCOME: The investigation revealed differing recall of the proximity relating to this occurrence making a determination impractical. Pilots are asked to keep a high degree of visual situational awareness when operating in the vicinity of uncontrolled aerodromes and use radio for "alerted" see and avoidance but not become reliant on radio only.
9/2/2018	OCC1318	Redcliffe aerodrome	QLD	Arion	Lightning	Jabiru	3300	During take-off, when about 10ft in the air, a duck flew up from the left side of the aircraft and f...
During take-off, when about 10ft in the air, a duck flew up from the left side of the aircraft and flew into the prop and then impacted the inboard leading edge of the right wing. The pilot did not feel or hear the prop blade impacting the duck but the carcass made a thud when it impacted the leading edge of the wing. The pilot climbed to 500ft at reduced power and alerted local traffic that the aircraft had just had a bird strike and was making a precautionary landing from a low level circuit. The aircraft and engine were operating as normal. On short final the pilot saw the carcass of the duck on the side of the airstrip. The aircraft was taxied off the RWY and inspected for damage and none was found. OUTCOME: No action required by RAAus.