Accredited Representative to the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority investigation of the loss of control and in flight break up involving GippsAero, GA8 Airvan registered SE-MES, near Umeå Airport, Sweden, on 14 July 2019

The occurrence

On July 14 2019, a GippsAero, GA8 Airvan registered SE-MES, departed Umeå Airport, Sweden for parachuting operations with a pilot and eight passengers on board. The aircraft subsequently collided with terrain north of the airport, fatally injuring the nine occupants..

Investigation

The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK), conducted an investigation into this accident. As Australia is the State of Manufacture of the aircraft, the SHK requested an Accredited Representative from the ATSB be appointed.

To facilitate this request, the ATSB initiated an external investigation under the provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.

Findings

The SHK investigation revealed that the in-flight break up was attributed to the aircraft being flown beyond its design and structural limitations following loss of control by the pilot. Pilot inexperience, aircraft loading, weather and hypoxia were offered as probable causes for the accident.

Recommendations with respect to parachuting operations were made to the Swedish Transport Agency and to EASA for  the introduction of formal pilot training and improvements related to mass and balance approval procedures, and awareness and knowledge for those involved.

The final report of the investigation conducted by the SHK can be found at www.havkom.se/assets/reports/RL2020_08e-Final-report.pdf

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The information contained in this update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the SHK investigation of the occurrence.