Narrative:
The pilot of a Swearingen SA227-DC Metro 23 aircraft, registered VH-HPE, was conducting a scheduled freight run from Brisbane, to Emerald, via Thangool Airport, Queensland.
Approaching Thangool, the pilot conducted a Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) arrival with a left circuit onto runway 28, touching down at 05:45 hours, just before first light.
Shortly after touchdown, and with all landing gear wheels in contact with the ground, the pilot saw the glimpse of an animal flash from left to right in front of the aircraft. At the time, the aircraft was travelling at about 80 kt. The right propeller then struck the animal, later identified as a small kangaroo. The pilot reported that following the large bang associated with the propeller striking the animal, there was a lot of vibration throughout the aircraft, but no abnormal engine indications.
The pilot continued the landing roll, and used ground idle rather than reverse thrust to slow the aircraft.
The pilot taxied the aircraft to the parking bay, shut down the engines, then carried out an external inspection and found that one of the propeller blades attached to the right engine was twisted. The pilot was not injured.
Following the incident, the operator replaced the right engine and propeller and arranged for the original engine to be further assessed by engineering staff.
The next day, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service was involved in a similar accident when it struck a kangaroo on landing at Thangool.
Runway mishap
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 1 September 2015 |
| Time: | 05:45 |
| Type: |  Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23 |
| Operator: | Toll Aviation |
| Registration: | VH-HPE |
| MSN: | DC-823B |
| First flight: | 1993 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Thangool Airport, QLD (THG) ( Australia)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Brisbane International Airport, QLD (BNE/YBBN), Australia |
| Thangool Airport, QLD (THG/YTNG), Australia |
The pilot of a Swearingen SA227-DC Metro 23 aircraft, registered VH-HPE, was conducting a scheduled freight run from Brisbane, to Emerald, via Thangool Airport, Queensland.
Approaching Thangool, the pilot conducted a Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) arrival with a left circuit onto runway 28, touching down at 05:45 hours, just before first light.
Shortly after touchdown, and with all landing gear wheels in contact with the ground, the pilot saw the glimpse of an animal flash from left to right in front of the aircraft. At the time, the aircraft was travelling at about 80 kt. The right propeller then struck the animal, later identified as a small kangaroo. The pilot reported that following the large bang associated with the propeller striking the animal, there was a lot of vibration throughout the aircraft, but no abnormal engine indications.
The pilot continued the landing roll, and used ground idle rather than reverse thrust to slow the aircraft.
The pilot taxied the aircraft to the parking bay, shut down the engines, then carried out an external inspection and found that one of the propeller blades attached to the right engine was twisted. The pilot was not injured.
Following the incident, the operator replaced the right engine and propeller and arranged for the original engine to be further assessed by engineering staff.
The next day, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service was involved in a similar accident when it struck a kangaroo on landing at Thangool.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Runway mishap
Sources:
» ATSBPhotos
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 Brisbane International Airport, QLD to Thangool Airport, QLD as the crow flies is 408 km (255 miles).
Distance from Brisbane International Airport, QLD to Thangool Airport, QLD as the crow flies is 408 km (255 miles).
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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