Summary
On 17 July 2008, at approximately 0915 Eastern Standard Time, the pilot of a Piper Navajo PA-31 aircraft, registered VH-IHR, was en route from Century Mine, Qld to Mt Isa, Qld when the left engine lost power. Shortly after, the right engine lost power and the pilot attempted to land the aircraft in sparsley wooded bushland about 4 km from the Barkly Highway. The pilot received serious injuries, and the aircraft was seriously damaged.
A subsequent check of the aircraft found that the loss of power to both engines was due to fuel starvation.
Occurrence summary
| Investigation number | AO-2008-048 |
|---|---|
| Occurrence date | 17/07/2008 |
| Location | Mount Isa Aero 342 deg/24 km |
| State | Queensland |
| Report release date | 02/04/2009 |
| Report status | Final |
| Investigation level | Systemic |
| Investigation type | Occurrence Investigation |
| Investigation status | Completed |
| Mode of transport | Aviation |
| Aviation occurrence category | Fuel starvation |
| Occurrence class | Accident |
| Highest injury level | Serious |
Aircraft details
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft Corp |
|---|---|
| Model | PA-31 |
| Registration | VH-IHR |
| Serial number | 31-8012077 |
| Sector | Piston |
| Operation type | Charter |
| Departure point | Century Mine, Qld |
| Destination | Mount Isa, Qld |
| Damage | Destroyed |