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A door on the engine cowl of a DHC-1 Chipmunk that crashed at Perth’s Jandakot Airport earlier this year may not have been properly fastened, the ATSB has said.
In its preliminary report, the transport safety watchdog said that the Chipmunk VH-POR, a former military training aircraft that collided with the ground shortly after takeoff on 26 April, killing its pilot, appeared to have two unfastened latches on its left engine cowling door as it was taxiing.
The latches securing the left and right cowling doors on a Chipmunk are fastened when in the horizontal position and unfastened when vertical.
“A witness on the southern apron took photographs of the aircraft taxiing past, and these show the latches on the left side engine cowl were oriented vertically,” said ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.
After the pilot was given clearance, they began the take-off roll, and the aircraft became airborne about halfway along the runway.
“One witness recalled seeing something ‘flapping’ on the aircraft during the take-off,” said Mitchell.
That witness, and others in a nearby building, observed the aircraft roll to the left at low height near the end of runway 24L.
“Camera footage showed the aircraft’s angle of bank increasing and the aircraft descending into terrain. A camera about 180 m to the south-east of the accident site recorded the engine cowling on the left side opening and closing in the seconds prior to the accident.”
ATSB investigators’ wreckage examination noted damage to the engine cowl latches indicative of their being correctly fastened on the right side and unfastened on the left.
“All major aircraft components were accounted for, witnesses had not reported any change in engine sound prior to the accident, and the propeller showed evidence that the engine was running at impact,” said Mitchell.
ATSB examination established continuity of the aircraft’s flight controls, and the flaps were assessed to have likely been in the retracted position at time of impact.
As the investigation progresses, the ATSB will conduct further examination of the aircraft components, review aircraft and pilot documentation, and analyse the aircraft’s flight path, and impact forces.
A final report, which will detail analysis and the ATSB’s findings, will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” said Mitchell.
