Loss of control

Circumstances:

The pilot reported that the aircraft was taking off downhill from a one-way agricultural strip with a load of superphosphate. The strip consisted of 300 metres of gravel, followed by about 100 metres of pasture. A gully crossed beyond the strip end. The pilot reported that the wind in the loading area at the top of the strip was a very light quartering tailwind from the left. The aircraft became airborne at the end of the gravel strip, with the engine apparently delivering full power. Almost immediately the aircraft encountered sink, with the mainwheels touching momentarily on the pasture. At that stage, the pilot commenced dumping the load, but the aircraft failed to respond. Full dump was initiated. However, the aircraft stalled, dropping the right wing before striking the ground on the far side of the gully with the wing, which broke off. The aircraft then skidded through a fence in a semi-inverted attitude for about 70 metres before coming to rest upright. The pilot advised that the wind funnelling down the valley was gusting 12 to 15 knots from the left, considerably different to that in the loading area.

Circumstances:

The aircraft was being landed on an agricultural strip prior to commencing spreading operations. The pilot reported the landing was normal until the aircraft developed a swing to the left. Application of the right brake had no effect due to a very slippery, short wet grass surface. The aircraft collided with a fence at low speed, displacing the left landing gear, and damaging the left wing. The wind was a left, quartering tailwind at five knots.

Circumstances:

The pilot reported that just prior to touchdown he experienced a huge crosswind gust that blew him to the side of the strip. He attempted to regain directional control with rudder as the aircraft was then on the ground, but he could not prevent the aircraft running into a sand windrow at the edge of the strip. On striking the windrow and then bushes, the left main gear leg was torn off followed by the other gear legs. The engine was also reportedly detached from the nose of the aircraft.

The aircraft was being flown by the pilot under supervision. Touchdown was made 450 metres beyond the threshold of the strip. The pilot applied heavy braking and the aircraft began to skid and slide sideways down the strip. About 560 metres after touchdown, the right hand main gear over centre-lock released due to the side loads imposed. These loads were transmitted to the braze rod which failed, causing the gear to collapse. The right wingtip and propeller struck the ground.

Circumstances:

The pilot reported that he was spraying a crop with the runs oriented in a racetrack pattern across the wind, which was south-easterly at 15 knots. This resulted in a turn into wind at one end and a turn downwind at the other end. He experienced difficulty in preventing the aircraft drifting away from the paddock during the downwind turns and was widening the turns in an attempt to correct the problem. During the third downwind turn the aircraft stalled but the pilot was unable to level the wings due to trees in the path of the aircraft. The right wing struck a fence and cartwheeled into a paddock.

During the sortie the student overcontrolled the aircraft during the landings. Conditions were hot and humid with slight turbulence. On the fourth landing the aircraft bounced, the right wing dropped and the aircraft veered to the right. The instructor took over the controls and applied full power. She was able to regain straight and level flight but did not correct the veer because the airspeed was low and because she was confident that the aircraft would safely clear a fence ahead. The aircraft failed to gain sufficient height and the gear collided with the fence. The aircraft settled into an isolated pile of rubble a short distance beyond the fence. This accident was not the subject of a formal on-site investigation.

The student pilot was returning from his first solo trip to the training area where he had been practicing steep turns. He made a straight in approach for Runway 11 Left. The current Terminal Information (ATIS) reported the wind as 060 degrees 10 to 15 knots, crosswind mean 8 maximum 13 knots. As the aircraft touched down it started to drift to the right. The pilot attempted to correct this with rudder and started to apply power. The aircraft ground looped to the left through 45 degrees. The nose leg failed and the propeller contacted the runway. The aircraft came to rest on the grass to the left of Runway 11 Left. This accident was not the subject of a formal on-scene investigation.

During the landing approach the pilot became preoccupied with his proximity to the preceding aircraft approaching the same runway. On touchdown the aircraft bounced slightly and then the pilot lost directional control. He tried to regain control but was not successful in doing so. The aircraft ran off the runway, entered soft ground and overturned. The accident occurred on the pilot's first solo flight in the aircraft type and the landing was his first solo landing. He said that having done further training in the type since the accident, it had become evident to him that the aircraft felt quite different to land with one on board instead of two. He also felt that he should have done more circuits and landings prior to going solo.

The pilot also believed that his preoccupation with the preceding aircraft resulted in insufficient attention being paid to airspeed. With hindsight he should have made a go-around rather than persevere with the landing attempt. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation and this report is based on information supplied by the pilot.

The pilot was making a landing on a dirt strip 822 metres in length. The conditions were calm and the temperature was 37 degrees Celsius. The aircraft floated for some distance before touchdown. Although heavy braking was commenced the pilot reported it was apparent the aircraft would not stop before the end of the strip. A ground loop was initiated during which the aircraft entered soft ground. The nose leg was bent as the aircraft tipped onto a wing tip.

The pilot stated that when he returned to land after a spreading operation he noticed a dust devil about half way along the strip. The chief pilot, who was on the ground near the southern end of the strip, also noticed the dust devil, and warned the pilot on the company radio. The pilot circled near the northern end of the strip until the dust devil moved off the strip to the west and into the trees. A normal approach and landing was then made from the north. During the landing roll the pilot noticed that the dust devil had reappeared from the trees, and was moving directly into his landing path. Maximum braking was applied, but the aircraft encountered the dust devil and became uncontrollable in the turbulence. The propeller struck the ground and the aircraft slid sideways to the left for forty metres. During the slide, the left wheel axle bolts sheared and the left wing struck the ground.