SYNOPSIS

The pilot was operating his Starduster TOO, a two-seat aerobatic biplane, from Eglinton Airport, Derry. He flew the aircraft from the back seat while his passenger occupied the front seat. The purpose of the flight was to carry out some aerobatic training with specific emphasis on “rolls”, in the east Donegal area of Lough Foyle. The first manoeuvre, a practice stall, was carried out successfully, and this was followed by a climb to regain lost height which was perhaps “too vertical”, as the aircraft approached the stall. The pilot applied left rudder and left stick to exit this situation, not unlike a stall turn manoeuvre, he thought.

In this manoeuvre the aircraft inadvertently entered a spin, and recovery was effected only after serious height loss when the aircraft struck domestic electricity wires. The pilot cut short his flight and returned to Eglinton where he landed without further incident.

The Report makes no Safety Recommendation.     

SYNOPSIS

Following take-off from a private grass airstrip, the aircraft did not achieve sufficient fly-away airspeed and stalled. It struck a solid hedgerow and came to rest in an open field adjacent to the airstrip.  The aircraft was a write-off as a result of the accident, and a passenger subsequently died as a consequence of injuries received in the accident. The pilot and the other passenger also suffered injuries. The report makes two Safety Recommendations.

SYNOPSIS

The aircraft departed Charleroi Airport on a scheduled flight to Stanstead, UK. Shortly after take off the First Officer noted that the Captain had leaned to one side and did not respond to prompting.  Realising that the Captain was incapacitated the First Officer advised Brussels ATC that he had a pilot incapacitation problem and requested a return to the departure airfield, Charleroi.  An Emergency was declared.

The No. 1 Cabin Crew Member (CCM) (1) was summoned to the cockpit and put a therapeutic   oxygen mask on the unconscious Captain.  It appeared that the Captain was lifeless.  The aircraft returned immediately and landed safely at Charleroi. A husband and wife medical doctor team on board the aircraft attempted to revive the Captain.  Eventually with the aid of the airport and Local Authority Emergency Services, the Captain responded to intensive revival efforts and was removed to hospital in a critical condition. 

This Report makes three safety recommendations.

SYNOPSIS

This incident occurred when the aircraft was being pulled forward after the completion of the pushback from Stand 10.  The Captain requested the aircraft to be pulled forward in order to allow clearance for another operators aircraft.  As the aircraft was being pulled forward, the roof of the tug cab damaged the aircraft radome.  There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

SYNOPSIS

After a normal touchdown on RWY 28, the homebuilt aircraft began to diverge laterally during the rollout. The pilot could not control this divergence and the aircraft came to a halt with its nose approximately 3 metres off the North edge of the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot, but the aircraft suffered abrasions to the wing tip and nose area.

SYNOPSIS

The accident happened during the Celtic Cup Hang Gliding Competition which was held over 24 and 25 May 2003 at Mount Leinster on the Carlow / Wexford border.  A task was set to fly from the summit of Mount Leinster to a field on the east coast just south of Courtown Harbour – a distance of 37.2km.  The pilot arrived over the field and after descending towards the goal area, attempted to perform a loop in his hang glider. The glider failed to complete the loop and slid backwards into a series of reverse loops during which the pilot became detached from the control bar and lost control.  He made several attempts to deploy his reserve parachute.  When it did deploy, insufficient height remained to recover the situation and the pilot and his hang glider hit the ground simultaneously.  The pilot was injured and taken to hospital.   He died from his injuries 9 days later.