Fatal Crash near Moomba

[Rotor Work]

Pilot killed in light aircraft crash at outback Moomba


From ABC News

Pilot killed in light aircraft crash at outback Moomba - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-19/pilot-killed-on-outback-crash/5101194)

A pilot has been killed when a light aircraft crashed near outback Moomba in South Australia.

Police said an emergency beacon was activated about 8:15pm on Monday, about 120 kilometres north-east of Mungerannie Station.

A police patrol from Marree searched and found the wreckage.

The local man, 33, was found dead at the scene of the crash.

[onetrack]

The pilot was a local station owner and was apparently doing mustering work when the accident occurred.

[Jabawocky]

Wow.......who edited that so fast.

Need more or less wine. Not sure :\

[onetrack]

Jaba, I edited my post because, on second thoughts, I have to admit, my initial post was merely ponderings - and the pilot characteristic I mentioned could have had no bearing on the crash whatsoever, and could possibly have reflected badly on the parties involved, and perhaps given some people a wrong impression.
Mustering is simply risky work, and it could have been simple pilot error that caused the crash. We'll await any evidence, as there may have been eyewitnesses. However, it's a very remote and sparsely-populated area.
SD is just happy she wasn't tasked to assist with checking the crash results - as she could have easily been - because it fell into an area of her responsibility out there. She moved out over the QLD border the day before the crash.

[onetrack]

The pilot has been identified as Luke Betts, 33, of Mungerannie. Lukes family featured in a RFDS flyer in 2008.

My sympathy is extended to his young wife and three young children.

Pilot killed near Moomba (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/photos/mungerannie-man-33-dies-when-light-plane-crashes-near-moomba/story-fnii5yv6-1226763030777)

http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/IgnitionSuite/uploads/docs/flyer_proof2.pdf

[Desert Flower]

The curse of Mungerannie strikes again. That's the third such incident of that type in that area over the years. The first on was Mungerannie station owner Kevie Oldfield, back in about 1992 while checking stock tanks. Then in 1994 his cousin Grant Oldfield of Cowarie station was killed while aerial baiting. The thing that hit me hardest with Kevie's accident was the fact that I had to refuel the police airwing plane that was bringing his body back from the crash site. Not a nice feeling to know that the body of a very dear friend is separated from you by a thin piece of metal as you bend down to connect the earth lead to the nosewheel.

DF.

[Paul Alfred]

Hey DF hope you guys are well. Its an absolute tragedy what has happened. I still remember when Luke was excited about getting his licence to help with the mustering. I think it was 2011 when he got his own Savannah. My heart aches for Nina and his three little ones.

[onetrack]

S.A. Police have released a photo of the crash site, showing the Savannah. It certainly doesn't look like a survivable crash.
One would have to conclude the crash was a result of a stall? Possible engine failure? Steep left bank, left wingtip hit the ground first, the aircraft pivoted around the wingtip, and nose-first into the (very hard) ground?

http://i39.tinypic.com/14wwbb.jpg

[Deaf]

Maybe a look at aileron control continuity

[VH-XXX]

For what it's worth stall speed in those can be anywhere from 30-36 knots flaps up. You'd think at those kind of speeds he might have had a chance of survival. 3 young kids too what an absolute shame for his family.

[Old Akro]

DJPil is the expert on stalling / spinning. But most aircraft don't spin that near to vertical. Nor do the wings show the appearance of hitting the ground rotating. Agree with Deaf. There is something going on with the ailerons. It almost looks like it rolled inverted and he was trying to pull it through.

Regardless, its a tragedy.

[onetrack]

The Savannah appears to be quite a robust little machine with a low level of known problems - unlike Jabs. I can find no AD's or SB's that indicate any indications of design problems found in the Savannah.
One Savannah (model VG) crashed near Mt Magnet aerodrome, Western Australia, and the cryptic description for the reason for this crash, is given as "mechanical - flight controls".
The description states a rudder control problem that occurred at cruise at 3000' led to the crash upon landing. No-one was injured in this crash, despite the aircraft inverting upon landing.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=16&ved=0CFQQFjAFOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atsb.gov.au%2Fmedia%2F3432946%2Fattachm ent%2520e%2520-%2520ultralight%2520accidents%252000-10.xls&ei=Zt2PUr-nDKe4iAfQnoGoAQ&usg=AFQjCNG-cQYcmmZdkez4YrdvYrUD4OuplA&sig2=eoEsujiqNZ20ltGqJfChfg

A few Savannahs have crashed due to powerline strikes, and a couple in the U.S. seem to have undetermined reasons for the crashes, although the pilots were aged 69 and 82.

The only AD relates to a Savannah crash in Norway, where the cause was attributed to wing strut attachment plate failure due to corrosion, due to extended outdoors storage. The advice is to merely to inspect the plate for corrosion or cracking.

Paul Alfred indicates this Savannah was only 2 yrs old, it doesn't seem like age or hours could present as a problem here.
However, I guess there's always the potential for an assembly fault that wasn't picked up, that has led to a control continuity problem.

[Desert Flower]

Paul Alfred indicates this Savannah was only 2 yrs old, it doesn't seem like age or hours could present as a problem here.

That depends though on whether it was bought brand new or secondhand. Other factors here could be type of fuel used in aircraft, temperature on the day (usually pretty hot up there this time of year), exactly what type of maneuver the aircraft was performing at the time e.g. split arse turn out of the wind which could cause a wing to drop & no chance of recovery at low level etc.

DF.

[onetrack]

DF - I have info from Moomba that there was one eyewitness to the crash, he was out jogging and saw the aircraft go down - but I have no idea how far he was from the crash site.

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

With all due respect to those concerned,

Re "e.g. split arse turn out of the wind which could cause a wing to drop & no chance of recovery at low level etc."

Please explain..?? :=

A Sad Day for all concerned.

[Desert Flower]

Re "e.g. split arse turn out of the wind which could cause a wing to drop & no chance of recovery at low level etc."

Please explain..??

I can only explain it as it was explained to me a long time ago by very dear friend who has done aerial mustering for many years. In a split arse/split "s"/extremely tight turn out of the wind the lower wing can stall.

DF.

[Ultralights]

really? how does the lower wing stall first? in a steep, or any turn?

as for the Savannah, i am concerned by what appear to be the separation of the outer and inner portions of the flaperon. as both should be joined by a small plate effectively creating a full span single piece flaperon.
I do hope this is investigated by the relevant authorities, so those effected can get some form of closure after this tragic event.

[Kharon]

Split S v Immelmann. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Split_S.png)

The Split S is an air combat maneuver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_combat_manoeuvring) mostly used to disengage from combat. To execute a Split S, the pilot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviator) half-rolls his aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft) inverted and executes a descending half-loop, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a lower altitude.

The Split S manoeuvre is contrasted with the Immelmann turn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immelmann_turn), which is an ascending half-loop that finishes with a half-roll out, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a higher altitude. The Split S is also called a reversed Immelmann turn, or can be listed with a hyphen Split-S. In basic terms, they are very similar manoeuvre, both accomplishing the same goal, but the Split S exchanges altitude to gain speed, while the Immelmann turn exchanges speed to gain altitude.

The Split S, being a descending manoeuvre, means that the pilot must always ensure that he/she is starting high enough to complete the half-loop; the exact altitude needed depends on factors like the aircraft's speed, weight and manoeuvrability, likewise the terrain below the plane. Misjudgements can arise from a lack of situational awareness[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_S#cite_note-1) or from an error in reading instruments.

[Horatio Leafblower]

i am concerned by what appear to be the separation of the outer and inner portions of the flaperon. as both should be joined by a small plate effectively creating a full span single piece flaperon.

Yes I am concerned about the wings. The wings on this Savannah appear to be swept forward.

Maybe the wings were attached correctly until relatively recently - till roughly the time of impact?

I wonder if the same impact changed the alignment of a few other things, such as the ailerons/Flaperons? :suspect:

As for the turn into/out of the wind and its evil aerodynamic effects, it was best debunked by Peter Garrison when he wrote a piece in Flying about travelling in planes and trains - he would get up to walk around the train, and every time he turned towards the front of the train he was fine but every time he turned towards the back he fell over because suddenly the train was travelling at 100mph in the opposite direction to him.

The trick is, DF, that in an aeroplane you perceive that the aeroplane is skidding, relative to the ground, and unconsciously tighten the turn or cross up the controls or both.

The mis-perception is all the more likely at low level because you are closer to the earth and the relative motion is all the more aparrent.

People seem to worry about mid-air collisions with aeroplanes, which are quite small and hard to see - but in my casual observance it is far more common to have a mid-air collision with a planet, a much larger object and one that (you might suppose) is more easily avoided. :=

[Jabawocky]

Leafie.....THAT is POTY material right there :D Factual AND Funny.

[Dora-9]

Yes Leafie, my vote too.

Now I know why I always fall over in a train!

[Desert Flower]

From today's Adelaide Advertiser:

Betts, Luke Graham
RELATIVES and FRIENDS of Luke are respectfully informed his funeral service will be held at 3.00PM (CST) on TUESDAY December 3, 2013 at the Broken Hill Racecourse. A private cremation will follow.

The family have requested, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sids & Kids. Envelopes will be available at the service.

FRED J POTTER & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AFDA
Broken Hill Ph (08)8087 3725

DF.