The pilot had intended to go fish spotting in his aircraft. At about 1730 hours the aircraft was observed flying at about 100 feet above ground level and heading towards Streaky Bay. No further sightings of the aircraft were reported and when the pilot failed to return home a search was commenced. The wreckage was subsequently located the following morning. The aircraft had impacted in light mulga scrub in a steep nose down attitude. Investigation revealed that the main body tube had suffered an in-flight failure due to metal fatigue. The point of failure was at a junction of the rear engine pylon brace and the body-tube. The fatigue cracking initiated at rivet holes on the upper surface of the body-tube, beneath a doubler in an area which could not be visually inspected. The manufacturer had identified this problem and issued a mandatory inspection directive for this part, but the subject aircraft had not been inspected. Although the pilot was advised of this requirement by a friend, it is unlikely that he received any formal notification of it from the manufacturers local agent.

The first take-off attempt towards the South was abandoned because the pilot was uncertain whether the aircraft would become airborne in the distance available. He noted that the windsock indicated calm conditions, and after completing another engine run, elected to take-off towards the North. However, the windsock was sheltered from the prevailing wind and did not indicate the five to seven knot tailwind existing for the initial part of the takeoff. Full power was applied before the brakes were released, however acceleration appeared to be uneven, reducing as the wheels passed through soft areas on the strip. The aircraft struck a fence shortly after lift-off, and touched down in a nose-high attitude. It then bounced several times, struck a mound of sand and debris, and overturned. The investigation established that with the tailwind and soft wet surface conditions existing at the time there was insufficient runway length available. The pilot recognised the slow acceleration of the aircraft, but delayed his decision to abort the takeoff attempt.

During a Police search for an offender in scrub country, the helicopter was required to hover at about 100 feet over level ground in light wind conditions. After about 12 minutes in the hover with the co-pilot at the controls, it became necessary to re-position the aircraft slightly to the right and rear. To maintain adequate observation of the search area the pilot in command took over the controls and elected to back the aircraft into the new position. Whilst backing-up a slight descent developed. Power was increased but without effect. The pilot then applied full power and forward cyclic control in an effort to arrest the sink and fly away, but descent continued until the aircraft struck the ground heavily. The right maingear was broken and the fenestron shroud sustained damage. After the impact the aircraft bounced back into the air and the pilot maintained a low hover while the extent of the damage was assessed. He then flew the aircraft to the base camp and carried out a successful landing on fuel drums, which supported the right side of the aircraft. The initial slow descent during the back-up manoeuvre was probably the result of the pilot having just assumed control of the aircraft, coupled with a diversion of visual attention while moving towards the required position. The reason for the final, rapid descent could not be established. The aircraft manufacturer had no information relating to previous uncontrolled descents under the conditions which existed at the time, and therefore no procedures had been developed to counter the phenomenon.

The balloon was engaged in the Trans Australia Balloon Challenge. The pilot is the current Champion of Denmark. The landing was being made in 10 knot wind conditions. The injured crew member had been briefed for the landing but, for reasons unknown, she attempted to change her position for landing just on touchdown. As a result, she lost her grip and was thrown from the basket. The basket settled on her leg as it passed over her and broke her right ankle.

An instructor who was watching the aircraft as it entered the circuit estimated that the aircraft was about 200 feet too low on the downwind leg. The base turn was conducted at about 50 feet and during the turn onto final the wing of the glider struck the boundary fence. A subsequent examination indicated that the altimeter was over-reading by some 200 feet. The altimeter had been set to indicate zero prior to departure. In the following four and a half hours pressure changes had occurred which resulted in the apparent over-reading. During the circuit, the pilot had been concerned with other traffic about to take-off, and had attempted to alter the flap setting in order to modify the circuit. However, he had inadvertently applied the dive brakes and the glider lost height rapidly until the situation was corrected. A landing straight ahead was considered, but the pilot elected to try and reach the strip. It was likely that he was suffering a degree of fatigue after a long flight.

The aircraft was being operated on a Permit to Fly pending issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness, and was being ferried to Coolangatta for avionics maintenance and to be statically displayed at an airshow. The pilot reported that after a normal landing on runway 35 in a 12 knot crosswind, he encountered slight nosewheel shimmy and the nosegear collapsed almost immediately. A tubular engine mount frame, which supports the left hand trunnion bearing block, had failed. This allowed the left hand trunnion to become dislocated and the nosegear collapsed. Excessive nosewheel shimmy had been reported on a previous occasion. The nosewheel shimmy-damper washers had been lubricated. This may have reduced their effectiveness leading to excessive nosewheel shimmy and possible damage to the tubular frame.

The operator of the aircraft had contracted to spray 160 hectares of barley with weed killer. On arrival over the property, the pilot flew an inspection orbit and commenced spraying the first paddock towards some tall trees and a powerline. After this first pass the aircraft was pulled up into a procedure turn before diving steeply over the same obstacles, in the reciprocal direction. When the aircraft was clear of the obstructions, the pilot attempted to level the aircraft for the next spray run. However, the aircraft continued along its established flight path until striking the ground in a pronounced nose high attitude. The impact damaged the propeller, spray booms and landing gear. Chemical sprayed over the windscreen depriving the pilot of forward vision, and he was unable to control the subsequent landing run sufficiently to prevent the aircraft from broadsiding. The aircraft was being operated at a weight in excess of the Agricultural Gross Weight and at a relatively slow airspeed. During the pullout from the dive, the load factor ("G" loading) applied to the aircraft caused an aerodynamic stall. The pilot was unable to effect a recovery at such a low altitude.

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in spraying operations. Several days prior to the accident the starter motor had failed. Since then, the engine was started by hand swinging the propellor. On this occasion the pilot attempted a start with the cockpit unoccupied. The engine started and immediately accelerated to a high-power setting. The parking brake was unable to prevent the aircraft from moving off and the pilot was unsuccessful in his attempts to board the aircraft. The aircraft completed a 180 degree turn, collided with a motor vehicle and then proceeded across a road where it collided with an earth bank and a tree. The pilot said he may have inadvertently bumped the throttle control to the open position whilst setting the cockpit controls prior to engine start.

The aircraft was engaged on a night freighter service from Cairns to Brisbane with intermediate stops at Townsville and Proserpine. In the morning the aircraft had been positioned in Cairns by the same crew, who had spent the day in a local motel. The flight departed Cairns at 1847 hours. After arriving at Townsville the aircraft was refuelled and additional freight loaded before departing for Proserpine at 1947 hours. The aircraft was cleared to track direct to Proserpine on climb to Flight Level (FL) 250. At 2008 hours the pilot reported that the aircraft had left FL250 on descent into Proserpine and requested a clearance to track to intercept the 310 omni radial inbound for a DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) Arrival. This request was approved and a short time later the aircraft reported established on the radial. At 2016 hours, in answer to a question from Townsville Control, the aircraft reported at 2600 feet and was instructed to call Townsville Flight Service Unit. The aircraft complied with this instruction, and after the initial contact no further transmissions were received from the aircraft. The wreckage was located approximately 4 kilometres north-west of the threshold of runway 11 and in line with that runway. The aircraft had been destroyed by impact forces and the ensuing fire. A witness, who lived near the final approach path of the aircraft, reported that she observed the aircraft when it was on final approach. Analysis of her observations indicated that when she sighted the aircraft it was at a lower height than normal for the type of approach that the pilot reported would be flown. At the time of the sighting she did not notice anything unusual about the operation of the aircraft. Other persons at the Proserpine Aerodrome at the time of the accident reported rainstorms and strong winds in the vicinity. An inspection of the aircraft and its systems did not reveal any defect that could have contributed to the accident. Despite the extensive investigation, no evidence could be found to indicate why the aircraft was below the normal glide path during the approach.

Circumstances:

During a cross-country flight, the pilot became committed to an out-landing. A suitable paddock was selected, but the pilot subsequently misjudged the final approach. The aircraft touched down well into the paddock and the pilot initiated a ground loop in order to avoid a fence. The right wing dug into the ground, the fuselage lifted, and the nose struck the ground heavily.