ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 170470
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| Date: | Tuesday 14 October 2014 |
| Time: | 13:40 LT |
| Type: |  Van's RV-6A |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | VH-JON |
| MSN: | 25081 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Chelsea, VIC -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | YMMB |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
On the afternoon of 14 October 2014, the RV-6, departed Moorabbin Airport, Victoria on a local flight.
Shortly after reaching a cruise altitude of 2,900 ft, the aircraft descended to 2,500 ft. After that time, no further air traffic control radar returns were received from the airplane. The RV-6 descended rapidly and a witness reported observing objects falling from the aircraft. The airplane subsequently collided with the ground next to a house in the suburb of Chelsea, 8 km south of Moorabbin. The pilot died.
Following the accident, members of the public found a number of aviation-related items away from the accident site that belonged to the pilot.
The liberation of the items from the aircraft’s interior indicated that the canopy likely opened in‑flight. However, this was based on the assumption that the items were initially inside the cabin.
Examination of the primary and secondary canopy locks found varying degrees of damage and one component was missing. Therefore, the state of the locking mechanisms prior to the impact could not be established.
It was possible that the pilot was startled and distracted after the canopy opened due to the severe cockpit wind, noise and debris flying about. Though, the extent to which this contributed to the occurrence was unknown.
Also, while the ATSB was unable to determine how the canopy opening would have affected aircraft control, there were indications that the pilot was attempting to respond to the situation. However, for reasons undetermined, recovery did not occur.
Finally, the ATSB identified a safety issue regarding the potential for the in‑flight opening of a tip‑up, forward-hinged canopy to result in a significant pitch down tendency in a number of Van’s Aircraft models that may affect aircraft control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2014/aair/ao-2014-164.aspx
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Oct-2014 11:33 | Pineapple | Added |
| 14-Oct-2014 14:03 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Nature] |
| 25-Nov-2016 07:42 | harro | Updated [Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 28-May-2017 07:08 | junior sjc | Updated [Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
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