Narrative:
RAF Andover XS609 and crew had been on detachment at Pisa, Italy, from 26 March 1972, for Falcon free fall parachute training at Ampugnano.
On 8 April 1972, the routine pattern of morning flying had been completed and the aircraft was to be flown from Ampugnano to Pisa.
During the take-off, the co-pilot monitored engine response including water methanol cut-in and full torque/RPM on both engines. At 67 knots, the navigator called "rotate" at which point the captain applied back pressure on the control column to initiate rotation and the co-pilot held both throttles open with his left hand. The aircraft left the ground almost immediately in a fairly flat attitude with airspeed observed to be increasing through 79 knots.
At this point there was a change in engine noise; the aircraft was felt to falter and the starboard wing to drop. The captain heard the co-pilot's call that they had "lost one" and applied corrective aileron and rudder to arrest the roll and yaw to starboard. The roll and yaw to the right continued with the starboard wing tip striking the ground at a point 50 metres from the runway centre line and approximately 160 metres from the rotate point. The starboard wing tip continued to run along the ground with the aircraft pivoting around it and pitching nose down. The aircraft finally came to rest with a double impact, having turned through some 300 degrees. This double impact caused the fuselage to break aft of the cabin by the leading edge and the fin and tail plane to break rearwards. The fuselage and fin remained vertical but the severed front section rolled over on to its right side. Fire broke out immediately in the front section and began to spread rapidly towards the rear of the fuselage and the centre section of the wings.
Four passengers suffered fatal injuries in the accident.
Conclusion
The Board was unable to find anything to account for the failure of the starboard engine. The only tenuous theory was that foreign
matter in the fuel control system caused a flame out of the engine.
Loss of control
» The Modesto Bee - Apr 9, 1972 (Accident photo)
» Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Apr 9, 1972
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 8 April 1972 |
| Type: |  Hawker Siddeley HS-780 Andover C.1 |
| Operator: | Royal Air Force - RAF |
| Registration: | XS609 |
| MSN: | Set 16 |
| First flight: | 1966 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 19 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 23 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Siena/Ampugnano Airport (SAY) ( Italy)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Siena-Ampugnano Airport (SAY/LIQS), Italy |
| Pisa-San Giusto Airport (PSA/LIRP), Italy |
RAF Andover XS609 and crew had been on detachment at Pisa, Italy, from 26 March 1972, for Falcon free fall parachute training at Ampugnano.
On 8 April 1972, the routine pattern of morning flying had been completed and the aircraft was to be flown from Ampugnano to Pisa.
During the take-off, the co-pilot monitored engine response including water methanol cut-in and full torque/RPM on both engines. At 67 knots, the navigator called "rotate" at which point the captain applied back pressure on the control column to initiate rotation and the co-pilot held both throttles open with his left hand. The aircraft left the ground almost immediately in a fairly flat attitude with airspeed observed to be increasing through 79 knots.
At this point there was a change in engine noise; the aircraft was felt to falter and the starboard wing to drop. The captain heard the co-pilot's call that they had "lost one" and applied corrective aileron and rudder to arrest the roll and yaw to starboard. The roll and yaw to the right continued with the starboard wing tip striking the ground at a point 50 metres from the runway centre line and approximately 160 metres from the rotate point. The starboard wing tip continued to run along the ground with the aircraft pivoting around it and pitching nose down. The aircraft finally came to rest with a double impact, having turned through some 300 degrees. This double impact caused the fuselage to break aft of the cabin by the leading edge and the fin and tail plane to break rearwards. The fuselage and fin remained vertical but the severed front section rolled over on to its right side. Fire broke out immediately in the front section and began to spread rapidly towards the rear of the fuselage and the centre section of the wings.
Four passengers suffered fatal injuries in the accident.
Probable Cause:
Conclusion
The Board was unable to find anything to account for the failure of the starboard engine. The only tenuous theory was that foreign
matter in the fuel control system caused a flame out of the engine.
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» Broken Wings : Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents / James J. Halley» The Modesto Bee - Apr 9, 1972 (Accident photo)
» Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Apr 9, 1972
Photos
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
accident date: 08-04-1972
type: Hawker Siddeley HS-748 Andover C.1
registration: XS609
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Siena-Ampugnano Airport to Pisa-San Giusto Airport as the crow flies is 84 km (52 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Siena-Ampugnano Airport to Pisa-San Giusto Airport as the crow flies is 84 km (52 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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