[Peetwo]

Addendum:

From Oz Aviation

ATSB WON’T PROBE MID-AIR CRASH AS IT MUST ‘PRIORITISE RESOURCES’



The ATSB has said it won’t investigate the fatal mid-air collision this week near the Sunshine Coast because it has to prioritise its resources towards larger aircraft.

The organisation told The Australian it understood the next of kin “wanted answers” but had to allocate its resources towards cases that would generate the “greatest public safety benefit”.

On Wednesday, a recreation aircraft and glider crashed into each other, killing the sole pilots, an 80-year-old, Christopher Turner and a 77-year-old as yet unidentified Glenwood man.

The ATSB’s chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, said, “We understand that next of kin and the flying community that these two gentlemen were involved in do want answers, but as it stands at the moment, we do prioritise our resources to those investigations that will see the greatest public safety benefit.

“That means large passenger carrying aircraft are at the top of our priority list and then smaller passenger carrying and commercial work, then aerial work and flying training.”

Mitchell said the ATSB would help both the Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and the Gliders Federation of Australia to launch their own probe.

However, the RAAus chair Michael Monck said it was itself “feeling the pinch like every other organisation” and received “very little funding”.

The Gliders Federation of Australia VP Lindsay Mitchell said the ATSB had “done it before”.

“They say you fellows can take care of that. You do the investigation,” said Mitchell.

Australian Aviation reported earlier this week how one witness told 7News he was sitting on his veranda when he heard a “big bang”.

“We thought that didn’t sound like a gunshot, and we looked up and saw white bits of plane falling out of the sky.”

Before the crash, the glider and its tug aircraft took off from Gympie Aerodrome at Kybong, the home of Sunshine Coast Gliding.

It has been confirmed the second aircraft involved in the incident was not the tow plane.

Inspector Brad Inskip said, “The glider left from the gliding club. At this stage, we’re not sure where the ultralight came from, whether it came from here … it’s too early to know.

“The investigation will involve mapping those scenes, examining the aircraft and going from there, and obviously witness statements and interviews.

“This is a tragic incident and quite a graphic scene left there for all the emergency services and for the witnesses … terrible for the family and for those involved.

“This is a little local airport where many people in the community are here together — the gliding club is obviously very close.

“It’s a small little regional gliding club. They all know each other. This is going to hit the community very hard.”

Queensland’s Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the incident, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Mid-air crashes are rare, with the last in Australia taking place in February 2020.

Good news and Common sense...

The Oz - “Queensland’s Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the incident, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

That is good news; ATSB and RA Oz have declined to invest in the investigation; maybe the common sense and no nonsense FCU , funded by Qld tax payers will prepare a solid briefing for the Coroner and even some 'safety' input: been in short supply of late. Two men dead and the WB Popinjay deems it of little publicity value, no 'selfies' or dress up kits, so two deaths just get the flick. Great ain't it?

The Oz - “It has been confirmed the second aircraft involved in the incident was not the tow plane.”

Great; that rules out one question;

The Oz - “Inspector Brad Inskip said, “The glider left from the gliding club. At this stage, we’re not sure where the ultralight came from, whether it came from here … it’s too early to know.

Just the facts; no spin, no feathers, fluff or self aggrandising; just standard, diligent investigation to find the facts, to correctly inform the Coroner. Exactly the right approach.

Well done Qld...

Cheers CWB - thanks.

Via the Oz:

ATSB will not investigate the crash that killed two pilots ay Kybong


Police at the scene of the crash between a glider and ultralight. Picture: Lachie Millard

ROBYN IRONSIDE
AVIATION WRITER
@ironsider

4:24PM NOVEMBER 10, 2022
7 COMMENTS
The families of two men killed in a mid-air crash at Kybong north of Brisbane on Wednesday may never know how the collision occurred.

On Thursday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau announced it would not investigate the fatal crash because of the type of aircraft involved.

A non-powered glider and a recreational ultralight plane crashed into a paddock on Wednesday after colliding mid-air in relatively clear conditions.

The glider pilot was 80-year-old Christopher “Bob” Turner of Caboolture, and the ultralight pilot was a 77-year-old man from Glenwood.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said the bureau did not investigate accidents and incidents involving most recreational, ultralight and sports aviation aircraft including non-powered gliders, gyrocopters, hang gliders, paragliders and private hot air balloons.

“We understand that next of kin and the flying community that these two gentlemen were involved in do want answers, but as it stands at the moment we do prioritise our resources to those investigations that will see the greatest public safety benefit,” said Commissioner Mitchell.

“That means large passenger carrying aircraft are at the top of our priority list and then smaller passenger carrying and commercial work, then aerial work and flying training.”

He said the ATSB would stand by to assist the self administering organisations to which the two crash aircraft belonged to — Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and the Gliders Federation of Australia.

Investigators at the scene of plane wreckage at Kybong. Picture: Lachie Millard

However RAAus chair Michael Monck said they were not in a position to investigate either unless the government was willing to commit funding.

“We would be more than happy to look into it and generate some safety outcomes that would benefit the wider public if the government was willing to help out,” Mr Monck said.

“We’re feeling the pinch like every other organisation. We’re a private organisation and we receive very little funding from the public purse.”

He said his heart went out to the families who may never get answers about the crash that claimed the lives of their loved ones.

“At the end of the day when our government isn’t committing resources those families go unserved,” said Mr Monck.

Gliding Australia vice president Lindsay Mitchell said they were staffed by volunteers and not capable of conducting such an investigation.

“I’m not surprised the ATSB is not investigating. They’ve done it before. They say you fellows can take care of that, you do the investigation,” said Mr Mitchell.

The ATSB’s decision not to investigate, came as the bureau sent investigators to Canberra Airport where a Link Airways aircraft suffered serious damage from a wayward propeller strap.

Plus...OOPS!!  :

Forgotten propeller strap leaves three people injured


A passenger of Virgin Australia partner airline Link Airways has been taken to hospital after a bizarre accident at Canberra Airport.

ROBYN IRONSIDE
AVIATION WRITER
@ironsider

3:23PM NOVEMBER 10, 2022
20 COMMENTS

A passenger on a flight operated by Virgin Australia partner Link Airways has described the mayhem that erupted when a forgotten propeller strap penetrated the fuselage of their aircraft as it took off from Canberra.

Ashleigh Atkinson was in row six of the flight to Sydney and said just as the Saab 340 was about to take off, a woman screamed, and the front row was showered with debris.

“It was a massive explosion and my husband could see there was a hole in the plane,” Ms Atkinson said.

“The flight attendant was trying to calm the woman down and saying ‘we need to wait until we’re at 1000 feet to tell the pilot’.”


A passenger on board a Link Airways flight from Canberra on Thursday took pictures of the incident, which resulted in a ratchet strap penetrating the cabin fuselage.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said when the propellers started turning, the strap struck the fuselage of the aircraft.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said they considered the incident to be serious.

“It is concerning that a passenger carrying aircraft did depart with what we understand at this stage to be the ratchet strap not removed from one of the propellers and that has subsequently come off in flight and made a penetration to some degree into the fuselage,” Commissioner Mitchell said.

“That is of particular concern to us, and something we will seek to understand what were the contributing factors, why wasn’t it picked up.”



The Link Airways’ aircraft returned to Canberra Airport after a ratchet strap penetrated the fuselage, showering passengers with debris.


Flight radar images showed the aircraft in question registered VH-VEQ taking off from Canberra, then returning within 14-minutes to the airport.

The three people injured were assessed for minor injuries at the scene, attended by the Australian Federal Police.

An AFP spokeswoman said the matter was referred to the ATSB to investigate.

Canberra Airport chief executive Stephen Byron said they had spoken to one of the injured passengers to check on her wellbeing.

“We are aware of an incident this morning involving a Link Airways aircraft,” Mr Byron said.


Flightradar image of the Link Airways flight in question. Picture: Flightradar24

“All of the appropriate aviation agencies have been contacted and Link Airways are co-operating with the investigation.”

Virgin Australia denied anyone was injured and said “all passengers had disembarked safely”.

“Virgin Australia can confirm that flight VA633 operated by Link Airways on behalf of Virgin Australia from Canberra to Sydney on Thursday, November 10 was involved in an incident near Canberra airport,” said a Virgin Australia spokeswoman.

“After becoming aware of the incident, the crew took steps in accordance with standard operating procedures to prioritise the safety of all guests and crew on board and conducted an air return in line with safety protocols.”

The ATSB investigation would also gather evidence from flight crew and passengers, with a final report to be published in due course.

Link Airways teamed up with Virgin Australia late last year, flying up to nine Canberra-Sydney services a day for the larger airline.

Under the deal, Link passengers are also eligible for Velocity frequent flyer points and in some cases can use Virgin Australia’s lounge facilities in Sydney.

Saab 340s seat 34 passengers in a 1-2 configuration and have long been used on regional routes in Australia with very few issues.

MTF...P2