Death pilot did not follow rules: expert : thewest.com.au
Death pilot did not follow rules: expert
5th August 2009, 7:00 WST
An aeronautical engineer suggested yesterday that a fatal crash at Jandakot airport in 2003 could have been avoided if the pilot of the twin-engine Cessna 404 followed emergency procedures after an engine failed seconds after take-off.
Robert MacGillivray, of Victoria, who has worked in the aviation industry since 1968, told the Supreme Court that pilot Alec Penberthy had only a few seconds to decide what to do.
Accepted practice was to minimise all manoeuvring after an engine failure but Mr Penberthy decided to turn left and head back to the airport.
“A series of left turns, or a continuous left turn, attempting to return to the airport would increase drag significantly so the pilot would not be able to maintain airspeed without sacrificing altitude, thereby making continuing flight impossible,” Mr MacGillivray said.
The Cessna 404 was in the air about 90 seconds on the afternoon of August 11, 2003, before it crashed into bush. The left wing was ripped off, causing a massive fuel spill and fire that destroyed the aircraft, killing two passengers and badly burning three others. Mr MacGillivray was giving evidence on the second day of a four-week trial.
Crash survivors Malcolm Cifuentes, Michael Knubley and Ozan Perincek are pursuing damages alongside Janet Graham, whose husband Harry Protoolis died in the crash, and Julie Warriner, whose husband Steven died of his injuries 12 weeks later.
The passengers worked for Fremantle technology company Nautronix Holdings, which claims its business was devastated by the loss of the employees.
They are suing Mr Penberthy and Fugro Spatial Solutions, which operated the aircraft.
Also being sued is engineer Aaron Barclay, who is accused of using the wrong alloy when repairing part of the fuel pump in the Cessna. It is alleged this caused the right engine to fail.
Mr MacGillivray said a well-trained pilot would need about 10 seconds to follow emergency procedures such as confirming the failure, shutting the engine and “feathering” the propeller.
He said the pilot should have banked the aircraft about five degrees to the left to compensate for the missing right engine and to ensure the aircraft continued to climb.
Asked if there was any realistic prospect that the aircraft could turn left and make a safe landing, he replied: “No.”
Bit harsh being called a "Death Pilot" ?
Di
