AAIU Reports

 

While the aircraft, a tail-wheeled Piper Cub, was backtracking at Navan Airfield, Co. Meath, the Pilot experienced increasing resistance to aircraft movement which necessitated increased engine power to maintain taxi speed. On encountering an upward-sloping section of the airfield, further application of engine power resulted in the aircraft tipping forward onto its nose and the propeller striking the grass surface. The Pilot exited the aircraft unaided and no injuries were reported.

 

 

At approximately 15.15 hrs on 30 August 2017, the Foot Launched Powered Aircraft (FLPA) departed from a field near Kilshanroe, County Kildare with one Pilot on board. Shortly after take-off the engine of the FLPA stopped. In order to avoid residential buildings and electricity lines ahead, the Pilot turned left. During the manoeuvre, the wing of the FLPA struck and became entangled in further electrical lines, causing a short circuit and a power outage in the local area. The Pilot unfastened his harness and dropped to the ground. The Pilot reported that he was uninjured.

 

One safety recommendation has been issued as a result of this investigation.

 

Please see the below Preliminary Report.

 

NOTE: This Preliminary Report contains information, as known at this time, and does not contain analysis or conclusions. This information is therefore subject to change and may contain errors; any errors in this Report will be corrected in the Final Report.

 

Please see the below Preliminary Report.

 

NOTE: This Preliminary Report contains information, as known at this time, and does not contain analysis or conclusions. This information is therefore subject to change and may contain errors; any errors in this Report will be corrected in the Final Report.

 

 

The Bolkow Bo 208 aircraft departed from Navan Airfield (EIHH) at 06.35 hrs with the Pilot’s intention to fly to Biggin Hill, UK (EGKB). A short time after take-off the aircraft canopy opened in flight. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, carried out a forced landing in a nearby field. The aircraft canopy shattered and the aircraft sustained damage to the tailplane. The Pilot was uninjured.

 

 

 

During climb out from Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (LFPG), France, on a scheduled passenger flight to Newcastle (EGNT), United Kingdom, the Flight Crew noticed that the cabin rate of climb and cabin altitude had increased rapidly, and that a white PRESSN advisory light (pressurisation fault) had illuminated on the Central Warning Panel (CWP). This was followed by a pressurisation system caution light (pressurisation failure). As the Flight Crew were completing the abnormal operation checklist, a CABIN HI ALT (cabin high altitude) warning was generated. This resulted in the Flight Crew declaring an emergency (Mayday) to Air Traffic Control (ATC), donning their oxygen masks and performing an emergency descent. During completion of the cabin high altitude checklist, they discovered that a ram air switch on the overhead panel, which controls the position of the ram air valve, was in the OPEN position instead of the normal SHUT position. The Flight Crew moved the switch to the SHUT position, which closed the ram air valve and restored normal system operation. The flight was continued to EGNT without further incident.

 

It was subsequently found that a non-return valve in the aircraft’s ram air system had been installed the wrong way round. This incorrectly installed valve, in combination with the ram air valve being in the open position on the occurrence flight, prevented the aircraft from pressurising correctly.

 

Four safety recommendations are issued as a result of this investigation.

 

In accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 and the provisions of SI 460 of 2009, the following Interim Statement is issued on the first anniversary of the accident and provides an update on the status of the Investigation.

 

The sole purpose of this Investigation is the prevention of aviation Accidents and Incidents; it is not the purpose of the Investigation to apportion blame or liability. This Interim Statement should be read in conjunction with the published Preliminary Report published on 13 April 2017.

 

 

When landing in a sloping agricultural field near Castleblaney Co. Monaghan, following a flight from a private airstrip in Co. Galway, the tail-wheel aircraft touched down hard and bounced. The Pilot applied engine power “to avoid a stall” and the aircraft touched down again approximately 45 metres (m) further on. This was followed by a series of bounces and a loss of directional control, resulting in the right hand wing tip making contact with the ground. The aircraft came to rest in a nose-down position. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured.

 

 

During preparations for departure from Dublin Airport (EIDW) on a scheduled flight to Rennes (Saint Jacques) Airport, France (LFRN), the passenger baggage was placed in the aft aircraft baggage hold instead of the forward baggage hold. The Load Instruction Report (LIR) and the prepared loadsheet both indicated that the baggage had been loaded in the forward hold. The aircraft departed with the Centre of Gravity outside approved loading limits. The aircraft subsequently landed at its destination where the loading error was discovered.