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A fatal Cessna accident in South Australia earlier this year was likely because of unapproved spin recovery training, the ATSB has said.
The crash of Cessna 210N VH-RDH near Goolwa, SA on 6 February, which killed all three people on board, was under the supervision of an instructor who had repeatedly conducted spin activity in an aircraft not certified for it, according to investigators.
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Alongside the instructor, the plane was piloted by a commercial pilot licence holder, with one other passenger also on board.
“The instructor had a history of spin activity violations in this aircraft, from which they had previously successfully recovered before the spin fully developed. This likely gave the instructor the confidence to begin spins at progressively lower heights,” said ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“Other pilots who knew about the unauthorised spins were reluctant to report them, including because they felt powerless to act or believed it was not their responsibility.
“This highlights the importance of designing and promoting reporting systems that recognise and address barriers to reporting unsafe flying practices.”
According to the ATSB, the instructor had “likely initiated a spin so the commercial pilot could practise the recovery”.
“However, the Cessna 210 is not approved for intentional spinning, and its behaviour and recovery characteristics in a fully developed spin are unknown,” the ATSB said.
“The flight was intended to give the commercial pilot experience in the aircraft under the supervision of the operator’s check and training instructor for Cessna aircraft.
“About 12 minutes into the flight, radar data showed the aircraft at about 3,375 ft, before it began to descend rapidly. Witnesses saw the aircraft in a steep spiral descent, and video footage showed it in a left spin, immediately before it collided with water.
“The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were fatally injured.”
In its final report, the ATSB concluded that “the commercial pilot likely mishandled the recovery during the incipient, or early developing, stage of the spin”.
“The instructor did not intervene in time to prevent the spin becoming fully developed and recover the aircraft within the height available,” the ATSB said.
“The instructor’s previous spin activity violations had not been reported to the aircraft operator or the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. As a result, no action was taken to prevent the activity.”
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