The pilot stated that he was spreading "Urea" on a cotton crop. Prior to commencing a procedure turn the aircraft overflew a stand of trees. When the aircraft was about three quarters of the way through the turn, the pilot felt the aircraft begin to stall. He lowered the nose and increased power, but the aircraft descended into the trees. It continued to fall between the trees and slid for 70 metres before coming to rest. The pilot stated that during a previous landing he had experienced a willy-willy which had originated from the stand of trees. He was conscious of downdrafts near the trees. During previous turns he had flown well past the trees before commencing a turn. On this occasion he feels that the aircraft was affected by a downdraft.

The pilot was making his first flight in the aircraft which he had just completed building. He was using runway 17 right and the wind was a light southerly of about five knots, tending to the southwest. He reported that he misjudged the first approach to land, so made a go-around. On the next attempt he touched down about halfway along the runway. There was plenty of runway remaining after landing so the pilot decided to let the aircraft run through to the end rather than to brake for a shorter turn off. At this stage the stick was full back.

Suddenly the aircraft started to veer to the left. The pilot said he was unable to correct the situation. The aircraft continued the swing and was almost sideways by the time it entered the grass on the left of the runway. The right main landing gear leg buckled in the soft ground and the right wing hit the ground.

Following a normal landing onto a wet grass airstrip the pilot applied braking, but this had no effect on the wet slippery surface. As the aircraft approached the far end of the airstrip, which was fenced and adjacent to a steep gully, the pilot tried to turn the now slowing aircraft, but it continued straight ahead.

He was able to guide the aircraft to the edge of the airstrip, and when he attempted another turn it became sideways, ran off the airstrip into tussocky heavy grass which caused the main landing gear legs to collapse.

The pilot reported that during a steep approach to the landing area at Turtle Cove Resort, he heard a loud bang at approximately 250 feet followed by airframe vibration. A precautionary landing was made on the beach. Inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to two rotor blades, and after speaking to witnesses he realised that he had struck a power line.

The pilot said he had landed at the resort before but had not approached from this direction. He believed he had passed over the wires, but they were closer to the resort than he had anticipated. The pilot was not injured.

The operator advised that the aircraft had been hired for the purpose of a joy flight. While flying down wind, at reduced airspeed, over the northern end of South Stradbroke Island the pilot said that the aircraft's stall warning sounded. He immediately lowered the nose of the aircraft and increased power. At this point the aircraft was close to the ground, so the pilot decided to make an emergency landing. During the landing roll the nose wheel became bogged in soft sand and separated from the aircraft. The aircraft then swung to the right and the wing tip came into contact with a sand dune.

The pilot and three passengers were able to exit the aircraft safely.

The pilot diverted to Ballarat due to poor weather enroute. He noted smoke from a nearby chimney and estimated the wind was from 160 degrees. Runway 18 was selected for landing. On touchdown the aircraft bounced, touching down again near the right side of the runway. The pilot applied power to go around as the aircraft ran off the right side of the runway into a wet and boggy grass area. The aircraft did not become airborne. The nose leg collapsed on the soft surface and the aircraft quickly came to a stop.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1 The pilot probably misjudged the landing flare.

2 The pilot probably did not apply the appropriate technique to ensure that directional control was maintained during the attempted landing and go around sequence.

The pilot had been landing to the north on the agricultural strip. Because a 10 knot south-westerly wind had developed he decided to land to the south. On short final the aircraft landing gear caught in a power line which the pilot had not seen. The nose pitched down and the aircraft struck the ground very heavily and cartwheeled.

The aircraft was severely damaged. The pilot had sighted a power line, aligned east-north-east, from a house to a post. Another line, the one not seen, ran east-west from the same post, with the next pole out of sight among trees.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1 The procedures adopted by the pilot did not detect the presence of the power line.

2 During the landing approach the aircraft landing gear caught on a power line not seen by the pilot.

The pilot reported that the aircraft was landed downwind during agricultural rating pilot training. After a normal landing, as the aircraft slowed it suddenly swung left. The right wing and propeller struck the ground, and the right landing gear was torn off. The wind was gusting from the left rear quarter.

The Chieftain departed from runway 16R on a Radar 6 departure. After initial vectoring to avoid noise sensitive areas, the aircraft was vectored to intercept the planned track to Katoomba and instructed to climb to 5000 ft.

The SAAB was cleared to Sydney via the Oakdale 2 arrival and had been cleared for descent to 6000 ft. The departures controller reported that he observed the Chieftain climb through 5000 ft, in close proximity to the SAAB. He immediately instructed the pilot of the Chieftain to descend to 5000 ft and vectored the aircraft away from the SAAB, as well as passing traffic information on that aircraft. The approach controller notified the pilot of the SAAB, regarding the Chieftain, and vectored the SAAB away from the other aircraft.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the Chieftain had passed within 1.7 NM of the SAAB, with a vertical separation of 900 ft, resulting in a breakdown of separation. At the time of the occurrence the minimum required separation standard was either 3 NM laterally, or 1000 ft vertically.

The pilot said he had landed at the small grass strip a couple of times before. He flew to the area and made inspection runs over the strip at a height of about 100 feet. He then made a landing approach. The aircraft touched down about one quarter of the way in and bounced.

Because there was insufficient landing distance remaining, the pilot applied engine power and selected two stages of flap for a go-around. Lift off was made at 55 knots but the wheels struck a bank at the end of the strip. This impact severely damaged the undercarriage. The pilot turned the aircraft to the left towards a small clear paddock. However, in doing so the left wing struck a small tree and the aircraft cartwheeled.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1 Unsound decision by the pilot to land the aircraft at a strip of minimal dimensions.

2 Misjudged landing approach.

3 The flight was not authorised by a designated responsible person.

4 The operator's procedures did not require the flight to be so authorised.