Air Ngukurr chief pilot in court
Northern Territory News Wed 27 Aug 2003
No power in plane
Court told electrics faulty
By Bob Watt
Court Reporter
The chief pilot of an NT airline told an inexperienced pilot to fly an aircraft that had no electrical power, a court heard yesterday.
Hone Pihama Edwards, 41, also allegedly told the pilot not to report the problem.
Pilot Benn Vandenberg, 24, told Darwin Magistrates Court he landed the Cessna at Katherine and again at an airfield near Noonamah without power to operate the aircraft’s wing flaps, radio and navigation equipment.
But Edwards would say the electrics were working and deny that he told the pilot not the record the problem, defence lawyer John Langmead said. Edwards, 41, of Cullen Bay, Darwin, pleaded not guilty to charges that he aided pilot Mr Vandenberg to commit an offence by:
Being aware of a defect on an aircraft and not entering it on the maintenance release sheet.
Allowing a pilot to begin a commercial flight without ensuring the aircraft was safe to fly.
Federal prosecutor Jack Lewis said the incident happened on May 2 last year.
Licensed aircraft maintenance engineer Michael Amiett said he operated the flaps at Noonamah and found the electrics to be normal. Another pilot later flew the Ngukurr Air aircraft to Darwin.
The hearing, before Magistrate John Lowndes, continues today.