Circumstances:

The aircraft was positioned on the downwind leg of the circuit, for a landing into the east, at between 400 and 500 feet above ground level. While turning onto final approach the left wingtip struck a tree, and the aircraft fell to the ground. The pilot received back injuries.

Circumstances:

The pilot was spraying a paddock which required the aircraft to fly over a main power line near the southern boundary. At the completion of a spray run, the aircraft collided with and severed the top three cables of the main power line. The pilot decided to return to Quirindi to land and inspect the aircraft for damage. Before landing, all checks were completed including a functional test of the brakes. The landing was normal until the latter part of the landing roll when the aircraft commenced to veer to the left. The right brake failed as the pilot attempted to correct the swing. The aircraft ground looped, during which the right main gear leg and right flap were damaged. During the wire strike, electrical arcing had burnt a small hole in the right brake line. Although the right brake tested normally prior to landing, brake fluid escaped from the hole during heavy brake application on the landing roll. This report is based on information provided by the pilot.

Circumstances:

The pilot-under-training was making a practice power off approach in strong gusty wind conditions. There was considerable turbulence in the area. Just prior to round out the aircraft experienced a high rate of descent. Although substantial power was re-applied the pilot-in-command was unable to prevent the aircraft contacting the runway heavily in a right wing low attitude. The right main gear axle and main spar were bent and the right wing top skin was severely wrinkled.

The pilot advised that a normal touchdown was made on the mainwheels. However, shortly after the nosewheel was lowered to the runway the right gear leg collapsed. The aircraft subsequently swung off the side of the runway. There were no external witnesses and all four persons on board the aircraft reported that the landing was normal. Inspection of the aircraft showed that the right maingear leg had collapsed rearwards, consistent with the application of upward and rearward forces which exceeded the structural strength of the gear attachments. It could not be established whether the overload forces had occurred during this landing, or whether a heavy landing on a previous occasion had resulted in the weakening of the gear support structure.

Circumstances:

The pilot was on a local flight when the engine failed suddenly at about 1500 feet above ground level. Emergency checks failed to restore power, and the pilot made a forced landing approach to a paddock. During the approach he deployed the drag brake because he was slightly high. He then saw a power line he had not previously sighted. In clearing this line, the speed washed off and the aircraft touched down heavily, fracturing the main gear legs as a result. An examination of the aircraft revealed that the fuel gascolator drain valve had been lost in flight. This resulted in fuel draining from the fuel bowl which in turn resulted in the engine power loss. The reason for the valve separating is not known. The information in this report is based on details provided by the pilot.

Circumstances:

The pilot reported he had been operating from an agricultural strip, for the purpose of sewing rice. During the ninth landing roll the aircraft experienced tail wheel shimmy. The pilot attempted to lift the tail wheel off the ground by the application of wheel braking, however, the aircraft nosed forward and overturned.

Circumstances:

The instructor stated that the pilot had flared normally, and during the hold off was flying parallel to the ground. Without warning, the aircraft suddenly descended and struck the ground heavily, causing buckling and compression of fuselage structure. The wind speed was approximately 20 knots with strong gusts, and flying was subsequently stopped due to the unsuitable conditions.

Circumstances:

The aircraft was taking off from a short strip. Soon after take-off the aircraft banked to the left lost airspeed and struck the ground. The pilot who was seriously injured was not sure if the propeller at the rear had struck long vegetation at the end of the strip causing him to lose control or if the aircraft had stalled during the turn.

Soon after lift-off, whilst tow launching a glider, the aircraft was struck by two kite-hawks. One hawk smashed the windshield and also struck the pilot in the face. The pilot released the glider and made a normal landing on the remaining runway. Although the pilot was cut about the face by the impact of the bird and broken pieces of perspex, it is considered that because he was wearing sunglasses at the time, he avoided probable serious eye damage.

The pilot was making a landing approach in gusty wind conditions. The aircraft was observed to descend rapidly, and in a nose high attitude, from a height of about 80 feet above the runway. The subsequent contact with the runway was heavy, and the right maingear collapsed. At the time of the approach, the aircraft centre of gravity was at or slightly aft of the rear limit, and the weight was close to the maximum allowable. The pilot had not attempted to arrest the rate of descent, and the aircraft had struck the ground with sufficient force to bend the axles of both maingears and to distort the wing surfaces. This accident was not the subject of an on scene investigation.