The so called story shown on Australian 60 minutes was, as far as the accident goes....rubbish. But what else could you expect from the media. They just don't seem to be able to do any proper research on anything to do with aviation.
No words can possibly describe what the victims families have been going through for the past two years. My comments here relate only to the actual accident.
I find it mind boggling the CAA can just turn around and blame EVERYTHING on the pilot and operator. I honestly didn't know that was their opinion.
60 minutes based their story on the TAIC report. The opinions of their expert were based on the TAIC report.
Would it surprise anyone to know that in an investigation into an accident in which Nine people lost their lives, that not all of the aircraft was recovered for proper investigation.
No person in the investigation team had even the slightest knowledge of the Fletcher FU24 type aircraft. There were plenty of qualified people available who did, including qualified accident investigators and engineers with enormous experience on type, but their services were apparently not required.
The accident was clearly a loss of control accident. The control column was found to be broken off and was found in the cockpit. The control lock was torn out but not found, even though it is clearly visible in photos post accident.
These items were buried on site along with the remains of the fuselage and wings. No proper testing was carried out on the control column or lock, such as testing by appropriate persons as to what caused the fracture, or why and how the lock was torn out. DSIR I imagine could have studied the control column?
A few months ago an exact same control column (cresco) broke off in flight, luckily the aircraft was dual and the pilot was able to land safely.
There is so much wrong with that report it is not funny.
Anyone who watched the Coroners inquest, which was screened live, and hearing all the expert witness's, should be convinced that C of G had no part in the CAUSE of this accident. Although even when faced with overwhelming evidence some "experts" refuse to change their opinion. Seems to be quite a few on this site who are quick to lay blame with absolutely NO knowledge of this accident. The Coroners report has not been released yet.
In independent CAA approved and monitored flight tests, in the same type of aircraft, with the same load and C of G position, the aircraft was fully controllable in all flight conditions. It didn't matter where the trim was set, it could be fully aft, the aircraft was still easily controllable through all stages of the take off. The aircraft had strain gauges and inclinometers fitted. All testing was carried out by a qualified test pilot and design engineer, it was done bearing in mind the average pilots ability. This is all documented.
The aircraft had completed 78 previous flights with the same loadings with no hint of being marginal, it flew perfectly. Other aircraft of the same type have carried greater loads in the skydiving industry for thousands of flights over more than ten years with no problems whatsoever. None of this information was taken into consideration.
We will now never know what the primary cause was, but in my opinion it was either a control breakage or jam of some sort, and beyond the pilots capabilities to regain control, even though he did manage to get it back to level flight and facing back towards the runway on a north easterly heading before the final wing drop.
Last edited by Weheka; 22nd December 2012 at 20:29.