ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 63696
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 25 July 1956 |
| Time: | 15:44 |
| Type: |  Auster J/1 Autocrat |
| Owner/operator: | Auster Air Services Ltd |
| Registration: | ZK-BQD |
| MSN: | 2310 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Hakataramea Valley, Canterbury -
 New Zealand
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Farm airstrip |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Pilot: Walter Rae Shepard (25).
R.I.P.
ZK-BQD was engaged in an aerial topdressing operation at Foveran Farm, Hakataramea Valley.
At the end of a sowing run the plane was seen by a farmer, an ex-RNZAF pilot, to pull up into a steep climb at a low altitude which gave this expert witness concern for the safety of the aircraft.
The Auster then dived steeply into the ground.
The aircraft was destroyed by the impact. There was no fire. The pilot was killed.
The plane was a hybrid Auster, consisting of a J/1 Autocrat fuselage and empennage (ex ZK-AUL) and a set of J/1B Aiglet wings along with the installation of a Gypsy Major engine. This conversion had been carried out successfully on other Austers before.
ZK-BQD had displayed abnormal flying characteristics in that it tended to fly left wing low and would, in a power-on stall, drop the starboard wing suddenly and fall into a rapidly developing incipient spin.
The pilot was known for his spirited flying technique, favouring steep climbs and semi-stall turns during sowing operations.
An unapproved repair/ modification was found to have been made to the forward end of the Arens throttle control assembly. This was compounded by shoddy workmanship, and the inner cable was found fractured . However, further consideration led the investigator to conclude that the fracture occurred in the crash and had no bearing on the accident.
The switch controlling the LH magneto was found to be in the " Off " position. It was concluded that the aircraft had flown its last and fatal flight on one magneto only. This would have had the effect of reducing the maximum revs by about 50 RPM.
It was known to be a common practise by pilots of agricultural Austers to switch off one magneto during loading operations in order to slow the idling speed and thus reduce slipstream.
The accident investigator came to the following conclusions : " 43 (b) The loading of the aircraft and the C of G position were within the prescribed limits.
(c) The aircraft was being flown in a manner incompatible with safe aerial work.
(d) The engine was running on one magneto throughout the flight.
(e) The aircraft had unusual power-on stalling characteristics, which were not discovered on the official test flight as the official test requirements do not call for power-on stall tests.
(f) The manner of the fabrication of the throttle assembly was inconsistent with aircraft engineering practice both in concept and execution, but was not a cause factor in the accident.
(g) The employment of the small type fin and rudder on the aircraft had no materiel effect on the accident.
Opinion:
44.The accident was the result of the aircraft being stalled in a climbing turn at low altitude and striking the ground in the resulting incipient spin.
45.The primary cause of the accident was an error in judgement on the part of the pilot in attempting a steep climbing turn beyond the performance ability of his aircraft.
46. Contributory causes were :
(a) The pilot's addiction to a topdressing technique which allowed no margin for error.
(b) The unusual stalling characteristics of the aircraft.
(c) The sluggish response to throttle associated with operation on one ignition switch."
Aircraft Accident Report No. 25/3/747.
Sources:
1. http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=7333
2. Janic Geelen, 1983, The Topdressers.
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 1 April 1952 | ZK-AUL | Auster Air Views Ltd | 0 | Paerangi, Waikato | |
sub |
| 27 June 1956 | ZK-BQD | Auster Air Services Ltd | Unspecified | |
unk |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-May-2009 12:58 | XLerate | Added |
| 22-Jun-2011 05:50 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Damage, Narrative] |
| 22-Jun-2011 06:02 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Narrative] |
| 22-Jun-2011 06:06 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 22-Jun-2011 16:37 | angels one five | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 14-Aug-2011 22:04 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 14-Aug-2011 22:15 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 15-Nov-2013 10:00 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Narrative] |
| 09-Oct-2021 13:08 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator] |
| 10-Oct-2021 20:11 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 20-Feb-2022 09:18 | Ron Averes | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 20-Feb-2022 09:27 | Ron Averes | Updated [Narrative] |
| 13-Aug-2023 07:59 | angels one five | Updated [[Narrative]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation