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2006 Willowbank 206 crash

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Old 20th Jan 2009, 10:45
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2006 Willowbank 206 crash

Hey Guys,

Subject was debated quite a bit at the time - take some time to read the coronors report which brings up some very good points IMHO in relation to regulation of the parachute industry

http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/Willowbank20081124.pdf
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 11:38
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Certainly interesting......

And this bit
The evidence in this case shows that customers of the Brisbane Skydiving Centre were charged a single fee for a tandem parachute jump. The fee included temporary membership of the APF, the provision of parachuting equipment, a pre-flight briefing from a parachuting instructor, the services of a tandem master and carriage in an aircraft to reach the jump height.
I have no doubt that part of the fee paid by tandem jumpers is for the air carriage to the jump height - this is why they are charged more if they jump from higher. Accordingly I am of the view a court could conclude tandem jumpers are passengers carried for reward and CASA has misinterpreted the legislation when determining such activities can be carried on without an AOC.
So is it commercial or not?

J
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 12:00
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Doh, you beat me to that paragraph by 20 mins. How about this one - it goes with yours.


"I am of the view the decision of CASA not to require commercial parachuting operators to hold an AOC is connected with the deaths investigated by this inquest. "
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 12:16
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commenced operating at Aratula on the Darling Downs in 1982


One would hope the rest of the report is more factual than that statement!

I am sure that Alan Cunningham would not consider Aratula to be on the Darling Downs!

Apparently, in 2006 and 2008 amendments were made to the CASA Day (VFR) syllabus – aeroplanes that have resulted in partial EFATO training being included in student training. This raises the question of such training for pilots licensed before that time.
Is this true? Has it been possible to go through PPL and CPL training and NOT get a thorough workout on EFATO?

That is not how I remember it!

Dr

Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 21st Jan 2009 at 10:54.
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 21:36
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Slight thread drift but in reply to the Dr...

Our CFI/ATO back in the 90's was notorious in PPL and CPL exams for the following - if a spoken-out-loud EFATO action checklist ("if I have an engine failure before taking off...if after takeoff...reduce power, land straight ahead, etc.) was not heard while sitting at the threshold or holding point he would pull the mixture on the pilot during the takeoff roll (early and at a safe distance). Scared the shizen out of those caught not being EFATO aware.
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 21:53
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Watch this space I guess............

Conclusions
A court could conclude the occupants of the incident aircraft, other than the pilot and the tandem masters, were passengers who were to be carried for reward from the airstrip to the jump site. Accordingly, I consider CASA misapplied the provisions of the CAA s27 and CAR206 when it concluded that the Brisbane Skydiving Centre and other similar operators could offer tandem jumps to members of the public without holding an AOC.
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Old 20th Jan 2009, 23:46
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The relevant legislation requires a contract for carriage of the passenger "...between a place in Queensland and another place in Queensland." Section 4(1) of Queenslands Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1964

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/q...ala1964327.txt

Surely if the contract is to carry a passenger from Willowbank and let them jump out of the aircraft at "jump height" before the aircraft then lands back at Willowbank - is not such a contract for carriage???

What is the postcode of "Jump Height" anyway?

Di
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 02:12
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Skydiving ops requiring an AOC?

About bloody time!


An airstrip in Queensland is certainly "a place in Queensland".

Is 14,000 feet above that same airstrip "a place in Queensland"? Airspace comes under Federal jurisdiction, not State.

Last edited by Lasiorhinus; 21st Jan 2009 at 02:42.
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 02:37
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Originally Posted by Lasiorhinus
About bloody time!
Hear, hear!!! CPL's in the drivers seat, paid what's more! The end of this particular gravy-train (for the operators) is well overdue, as is the closing of this especially glaring gap in the regulations.

Bring it on!!!
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 02:47
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It's covered under the Warbird ops in a similar (but different) way.

262AM states you can carry paying public (with a CPL of course) on an adventure operation as long as the operation takes-off and lands at the same aerodrome.

Without an AOC.
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 10:52
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EFATO training was still in vogue when I learnt....albeit in a different century to the Dr

And I do mentally review it every takeoff and sometimes out loud....just for good measure!

In fact when I first learned to fly the subliminal message left me thinking most engines fail every 50 hours....... or so it seemed!

J

PS as for geography I wondered that too........but figured he must be better educated than me given his position, but it seems I may be wrong!
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 11:04
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My instructors tend to pull the throttle at about 200-300 ft to see how I react, then when they say "OK" then I can push it back in and keep climbing.
They get antsy at me if i forget the pre-takeoff briefing... rightly so.
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 11:48
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My instructors tend to pull the throttle at about 200-300 ft to see how I react, then when they say "OK" then I can push it back in and keep climbing
A dangerous technique and proves nothing. By closing the throttle at 200 feet hardly has the student lowered the nose when he has to go around again. If the engine fails to pick up when the throttle is opened again then there is no time for the instructor to recover the situation in terms of field selection. What sort of weird instruction is that?

Far better to wait until a higher more suitable altitude where there is sufficient time for not only the student to select a suitable forced landing field but also to conduct essential safety checks depending on the aircraft type. It also gives the instructor sufficient time to evaluate the students actions so that a meaningful assessment of his skills can be made. And it also gives a fighting chance of regaining power if the engine fails to pick up during throttle opening. Throttle linkages have been known to break with jerky or rough handling by the instructor or student - especially when rapidly closing or opening the throttle as in simulated engine failure. Good threat and error management would dictate a safe altitude before closing a throttle in a single engine aircraft to simulate engine failure.

Think about this one on a similar subject:
It is common for some instructors to cut the mixture control in a twin to simulate engine failure after take off. They claim this is more realistic than using a closed throttle. They conveniently disregard the risk involved with a mixture cut that the engine may not restart and thus the pilot is left with a windmilling prop at low airspeed and altitude.

Yet, ask anyone why not cut the mixture on a single engine aircraft (rather than the throttle closure) to simulate an engine failure after take off?

Their answer would be unprintable, but generally it would be obvious there is a perceived danger of the engine not starting when mixture was re-introduced. Yet pilots are still happy to risk a failed start on a twin following a mixture cut simulated engine failure. Strange logic?

Last edited by A37575; 21st Jan 2009 at 12:05.
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Old 21st Jan 2009, 21:43
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I have yet to hear of a twin instructor pull the mixture to simulate an engine failure.

It is downright dangerous and the reasons why have been known for decades.

Every twin i have flown also states in the flight manual not to do it.

If someone is telling you to do this, walk away.
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Old 22nd Jan 2009, 01:23
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twin instructor pulled the mixture to simulate an engine failure.
have flown with 2 different schools, 3 different instructors & 1 ato that pulls mixture to simulate an engine failure... although none of them would use the mixture below 1000` agl
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Old 22nd Jan 2009, 13:04
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I disagree regarding no one uses mixture etc for a single engine aircraft, I regulary turned off the fuel valve discretely thus delaying the failure by 10 secs or so to give the students a real unexpected failure. Don't get me wrong never EFATO though lol, always at a high altitude. EFATO always the throttle and at least have 400ft or so otherwise cant really do much else but push the nose down then add power. Regarding mixture use for engine failures I beg to differ although my GA days were in mid to late 90's I never heard of anyone using a throttle for engine failures, has it changed now that the throttle is always used? I cant see a difference personally, whether its throttle or mixture, yes a throttle linkage could break, so could a mixture linkage? the props turning spark plugs firing as soon as you re-introduce fuel by mixture it fires, the chance of it not firing are the same as if you used the throttle. Fully feathered landings are way more dangerous, in those cases you dont have the engine full stop. Anyway I dont have an opinion either way whats more correct just wondering if its true that no one uses mixture anymore?
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Old 22nd Jan 2009, 13:07
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Isn't it a known fact that there are more fatalities from this 'sort' of training than actual engine failures?
I think you will find there is more to training accidents in twins than closing the mixture. Quite often it involves risks being taken at low level (that could be simulated at higher altitudes), not setting correct zero thrust settings, instructor failure to promptly correct student errors just to name a few. Check the CAAP on Multi-Engine training for more info.
Granted, for either single or twins, mixture cuts are unaccceptable at low level, but if you are worried about the engine not starting when fuel is reintroduced, there are bigger issues at play.
Seneca 1 Manual Operating Tip 15:
Experience has shown that the training advantage gained by pulling a mixture control or turning off the fuel to simulate engine failure at low altitude is not worth the risk assumed. Therefore, it is recommended that instead of using either of these procedures to simulate loss of power at low altitude, the throttle be retarded slowly to idle position.
AV8tr and OS, at higher altitude, there is no issue.

A37575,
Archerfield procedures where Pyro trains (not my AD) have a "Code 1" request where you can simulate EFATO as long as recovery is made with enough room before the airfield fence (essentially). I'm sure you can do this with 1400m on the main runway. The idea of a practise EFATO with my students is to have a suitable area available and see if the student can exercise the judgement and actions necessary to make the selected zone (or another suitable one if they so choose) under a pressure situation. In my view there is definitely benefit to be gained from this exercise. If your throttle is at risk of breaking from being advanced and retarded I think you need to find a new LAME. Can you qoute the source?
It is common for some instructors
Bit of an oxymoron but agree with your logic on this one....not with mixture at low level.
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Old 22nd Jan 2009, 14:07
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It is a sad state of affairs that people had to be killed before anything is to be done about the lack of regulation at commercial DZs.

I always found it incredible that the operators advertise tandem jumps with scenic views etc yet they are not required to have an AOC & Chief Pilot. Everything about some of these places is the very definition of a commercial operation. The flight to height is a charter in every sense of the word and should be regulated as such.

An absolute failure on CASA's behalf (in my opinion)
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Old 23rd Jan 2009, 02:25
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Full marks to the Coroner for a lucid interpretation. That about puts the lid on it, for me. CASA now has no choice but to require AOCs for skydive, or risk being sued for millions if there is a future accident, which sadly will almost inevitably occur. Priority number one for the new bloke, I'd say.
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Old 23rd Jan 2009, 05:10
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I think the mixture has been used to simulate engine failure on every MECIR I have ever done! But then I have only ever flown with highly experienced ME Instructors. Can't say it has ever caused me any concern.

How do you realistically test whether someone verifies which engine has failed if that throttle is already pulled back?

EFATO
1) Identify - dead leg, dead engine
2) Verify - yes, I am right cause that throttle is already closed
3) Feather - same side as the already closed throttle

If anyone ever turned the fuel off on me - I would belt them with something and tell them, "don't f*cking touch that" - then land at the nearest aerodrome and tell them to get the f*ck out of my aeroplane!

Dr
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