Fatal accident Lismore
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Fatal accident Lismore
Well known aviation identity and aerobatic pilot deceased this morning at Lismore. A well known performer at many flyins we have all been to. Some would say brave considering the aircraft type but just because its rag and tube doesn't mean you can't do what you can do in a tin can.
News
News are reporting it was an RV 12 on its maiden flight. When posted above it was not known what the aircraft type was.
News
News are reporting it was an RV 12 on its maiden flight. When posted above it was not known what the aircraft type was.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 24th Mar 2013 at 00:51.
Local paper has identified the plane as an RV-12 on its first flight - not the rag n tube we were all expecting. Quoted witness as saying it had crashed almost immediately after lift off. RIP
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Don't confuse the 10 with the 12, the 12 is the small one, side by side, a mini 6a would probably be the best description.
Being involved in a build of one of these myself it will be very interesting to hear what went wrong exactly. The pre flight checklist for the first flight is absolutely comprehensive and it would be near on impossible to miss something on the aircraft. Add that to a very experienced aerobatic pilot and instructor. What a shocker with implications for many home builders.
The pilot was not the builder of the aircraft.
Being involved in a build of one of these myself it will be very interesting to hear what went wrong exactly. The pre flight checklist for the first flight is absolutely comprehensive and it would be near on impossible to miss something on the aircraft. Add that to a very experienced aerobatic pilot and instructor. What a shocker with implications for many home builders.
The pilot was not the builder of the aircraft.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 24th Mar 2013 at 01:25.
From the Adelaide Advertiser:
So if an RV12 isn't a fixed wing aircraft, then what is it - a helicopter???
DF.
A 62-YEAR-OLD pilot has died after crashing a recreational aircraft in northern NSW.
The crash happened shortly after 8.50am (AEDT) on Sunday at Lismore airport, police say.
The pilot is yet to be formally identified, but a police spokeswoman said he's believed to be a 62-year-old Lismore man.
Because the plane was not an ultra-light or a fixed wing aircraft, no investigation will be conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, she added.
Lismore airport was closed for most of Sunday, but reopened just before 5pm.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The crash happened shortly after 8.50am (AEDT) on Sunday at Lismore airport, police say.
The pilot is yet to be formally identified, but a police spokeswoman said he's believed to be a 62-year-old Lismore man.
Because the plane was not an ultra-light or a fixed wing aircraft, no investigation will be conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, she added.
Lismore airport was closed for most of Sunday, but reopened just before 5pm.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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Err, the wings on an RV 12 are removable, but still ...
I hope RAAus is able to make some determination on what went wrong, so fellow RV 12 pilots can learn from this disaster.
I hope RAAus is able to make some determination on what went wrong, so fellow RV 12 pilots can learn from this disaster.
Last edited by RV6; 24th Mar 2013 at 08:06.
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The RV12 has removable wings and a 20 USG fuel tank which is housed in an aluminium tank that is assembled and sealed by the builder during construction. The fuel tank is fitted behind the pilot and passenger seats in the luggage area in plane speak. The benefit of this arrangement is the simplicity of removing the wings for transport because one does not need to drain or plug off fuel when removing the wings. The downside to this arrangement is the potential for rupturing of the fuel tank, however one could compare all day the merits of fuel in the wings versus in the fuselage. Think back to Christmas day a few years back when the 172 spudded in flat after hitting the power lines with full fuel - it still caught fire and I'm sure there are many other examples out there of the same.
It would be interesting to know how much fuel was carried for the flight. Of the test flying literature I have read prior to undertaking such flights I have been lead to believe that minimum fuel for the flight is always the preference.
Paul G - it's an all metal Vans RV12, the first one to come to grief in Australia as far as I am aware. A very popular kit at the moment with a handful flying and many more under construction.
It would be interesting to know how much fuel was carried for the flight. Of the test flying literature I have read prior to undertaking such flights I have been lead to believe that minimum fuel for the flight is always the preference.
Paul G - it's an all metal Vans RV12, the first one to come to grief in Australia as far as I am aware. A very popular kit at the moment with a handful flying and many more under construction.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 24th Mar 2013 at 08:21.
which is housed in an aluminium tank
We can protect a F1 driver from a gaziulliuon gs from 150 mph into a concrete barrier with a carbon fiber cell weighing 35kg.
Having lost two cameramen colleagues in ultralights in the past month, in this respect the design of ultra lights are ultra ****e.
Mickjoebill
Mike, we can build the structure, however it's only a mk 1 human inside it. We have acceleration limits.
The best I can do for me is braided stainless steel and Teflon fuel lines - the rest is probably circa 1950.
The best I can do for me is braided stainless steel and Teflon fuel lines - the rest is probably circa 1950.
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I have flown the -12, it was Dick Van Grunsmens own RV12, he built himself just to prove the kit was as planned.
Of all the LSA aircraft I have flown, this one handles the best, and is so docile in the stall it is not funny.
This guy was stick and rudder skilled allegedly, so nothing short of a fire in the cockpit or a massive bird strike or equally exceptional event should have brought this result.
Very sad.
Of all the LSA aircraft I have flown, this one handles the best, and is so docile in the stall it is not funny.
This guy was stick and rudder skilled allegedly, so nothing short of a fire in the cockpit or a massive bird strike or equally exceptional event should have brought this result.
Very sad.
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The descriptions provided of the accident sound similar to the 1992 Caribou crash on YouTube, the one with the turbine conversion that had a control lock fitted. Not saying that was anything to do with this, however the description of what happened after takeoff sounds quite similar.
I'll edit this to mention that the pilot was Wayne Fisher of Drifter fame. Wayne was the one you'd always see at fly-ins in his Driter VH-VSI perfoming what looked like crazy aero's over and over. I think I counted a dozen loops in a row one day, he was most entertaining to watch. Everyone used to comment about how stupid it was, but then someone would always butt in and tell how a wire braced Drifter was potentially as strong or stronger than your average Cessna. He certainly must have known how to maintain it well as he gave that aircraft a really hard time.
I'll edit this to mention that the pilot was Wayne Fisher of Drifter fame. Wayne was the one you'd always see at fly-ins in his Driter VH-VSI perfoming what looked like crazy aero's over and over. I think I counted a dozen loops in a row one day, he was most entertaining to watch. Everyone used to comment about how stupid it was, but then someone would always butt in and tell how a wire braced Drifter was potentially as strong or stronger than your average Cessna. He certainly must have known how to maintain it well as he gave that aircraft a really hard time.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 24th Mar 2013 at 22:51.
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I saw the name of the pilot this morning. I first flew with him some 26yrs ago during work experience when I was in High School. We were testing the then new underbelly fuel tank for the Drifter. Had flown with him many times since and regularly called into his hangar for a chat.
A highly skilled stick and rudder pilot he was indeed.
I, like many would like to know what brought him undone, heart attack or major structural failure seem most likely.
RIP Mate.
A highly skilled stick and rudder pilot he was indeed.
I, like many would like to know what brought him undone, heart attack or major structural failure seem most likely.
RIP Mate.