Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
8 February 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
For further information contact:
Bill Sommer
Tel: 0 4 560 9411 or
027 546 8216
The accident report can be viewed on the CAA web site,
www.caa.govt.nz,
under Accidents & incidents - Fatal accident reports, or use this
link:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/Accident_Reports/ZK-JML_Fatal_10May2003.pdf
Begins
Disregard of Operating Limitations led to fatal accident
ZK-JML, Foxpine aerodrome, 3.5 km west of Foxton, 10 May 2003
A Civil Aviation Authority safety investigation has concluded that the pilot of a Kolb Twinstar Mark II microlight aircraft died from injuries when his aircraft crashed on departure from Foxpine aerodrome, after the pilot lost control. The wind conditions were probably beyond his capabilities and those of the aircraft, and were in excess of the wind limitations set by the Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand (RAANZ).
"Operating limitations are there for a reason," said John Jones, Director of Civil Aviation, when releasing the accident report. "They provide an envelope for safe operations, and the responsibility for operating within limitations lies clearly with the pilot. Operating outside that envelope increases the risk of an accident. In this case the disregard of clearly stated limitations was a contributing factor in an accident that cost the pilot his life."
On Saturday 10 May 2003 at about 1540 hours, the owner-pilot of ZK-JML departed Foxpine aerodrome for Levin, enroute to his home base at Feilding.
The weather at Foxpine was overcast and windy with strong gusts varying between west and north-west. The hourly weather observations at Ohakea, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu for 1500 and 1600 hours, reported winds from the west to north-west at 20 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots.
As it got airborne, an eye-witness caught a glimpse of the tail of the aircraft before it passed out of sight behind a line of pine trees. Very shortly thereafter he heard a "loud thump" and, suspecting the noise came from the aircraft, went to investigate.
The wreckage was located in a small clearing with the pilot still strapped in the wreckage and seriously injured. Emergency services were called and on arrival, moved the wreckage and freed the injured pilot. The pilot later died from injuries received in the accident.
It appears that immediately after getting airborne, the pilot turned the aircraft to the right at low level, through a gap in the trees alongside the runway, probably trying to use another line of trees at right angles to the runway for shelter. If this is so, it was a major mistake. The aircraft would have been exposed to severe mechanical turbulence in the lee of these trees, downdraughts, and local rotor effects, which would have made control of the aircraft very difficult.
Examination of the accident site showed that the aircraft had been rolled inverted and the right wing tip of the aircraft had struck two metres from the top of an eight metre tall tree. The aircraft had then crashed upside-down to the ground.
The pilot was restrained by a lap and shoulder harness, but the inverted attitude at impact gave the pilot no protection whatsoever, as he was not wearing a rigid helmet and the Perspex canopy was of light construction.
The pilot was a qualified and experienced microlight pilot, who flew 250 hours a year on average. He held an Advanced Microlight Certificate, and a RAANZ Medical Certificate and Declaration valid until 25 February 2004.
There was no evidence of pilot in-flight incapacitation, and his aircraft appeared to be airworthy prior to the accident.
Foxpine aerodrome is situated on the north-western outskirts of Foxton approximately four and a half kilometres in from the coast. The single, grass-surfaced runway is 1015 m long and aligned east/west. Extensive microlight aircraft activity is carried out at the airfield. The aerodrome is surrounded by pine trees and there are cautions to observe when taking off and landing there. In particular, the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP New Zealand) notes:
CAUTION: Moderate to severe turbulence and windshear can be expected in S, SE and NW winds.
As a member of RAANZ, the pilot was required to comply with the Association's Policy and Procedures Manual, which states:
"No Microlight Aircraft shall be operated when the surface wind speed is in excess of 75 percent of the Aircraft's stall speed."
The wind strength forecast and experienced on the day of the accident exceeded 75 percent of the 26-knot stall speed of the Kolb aircraft.
It is not certain that the lack of a protective helmet contributed to the severity of the pilot's injuries in this accident, but in general, the use of any protective equipment will enhance a pilot's chances of survival. Both SAC (the Sport Aircraft Corporation) and RAANZ have accepted a CAA safety recommendation to include information on the advantages of wearing protective headwear in their respective training manuals.
"This accident could have been avoided," said John Jones. "Operating within safety limitations would have provided the pilot a cushion that would have saved his life."