ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 146
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| Date: | Tuesday 12 December 1995 |
| Time: | 09:18 |
| Type: |  Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander |
| Owner/operator: | GAM Air Services |
| Registration: | VH-UJP |
| MSN: | 3074 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1970 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 2 km NW of Horn Island, QLD -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Horn Island Airport, Queensland (HID/YHID) |
| Horn Island Airport, Queensland (HID/YHID) | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
At 0910 EST on 12 December 1995, the Aero Commander 500S aircraft, registered VH-UJP, was observed to depart runway 32 from Horn Island Airport, Queensland, and to climb out normally. Shortly after, it adopted a nose-high attitude and completed a wingover type manoeuvre followed by a fully developed flat spin to the left.
Witnesses on the ground reported that at approximately the same time as the aircraft entered the spin, engine power became asymmetric, with the right engine continuing to deliver considerable power. The aircraft continued to descend in a fully developed flat spin, with no observed signs of an attempt to recover. The impact was heard shortly after the aircraft descended behind vegetation to the north-west of the aerodrome. The accident was reported to Flight Service by radio at 09:18 EST.
The wreckage was located approximately 2 kms to the north-west of the aerodrome. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
In January 1992, an alert Australian maintenance organisation found the ‘stainless steel’ internal
reinforcing strap in Aero Commander 500S VH-UJP was corroded right through in places. It was not stainless steel, but (unprotected) 4130. Aero Commander could not find records to identify which aeroplanes had which steel, so all aeroplanes had to be checked - with a magnet held up under the lower wing skin. More than a quarter had 4130. Aero Commander and FAA were advised, but by February 1995 had not acted. The fatigue strength of the wing depends on the integrity of the reinforcing strap. This may have had a bearing on the structural integrity of VH-UJP, and may have played a part in its demise.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1995/aair/aair199504247.aspx
2. http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/scratchbuilder/aero_commander_structural_failures.pdf
3. http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24981/ASOR199504247.pdf
5. https://sites.google.com/site/aerocommanderproductionlist/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Jan-2008 10:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 06-May-2014 19:51 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 06-May-2014 19:52 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 10-Oct-2017 20:04 | TB | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Jun-2023 00:06 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Location, Source, Narrative]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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