ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 240287
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| Date: | Thursday 20 August 2020 |
| Time: | 12:25 |
| Type: |  Swearingen SA226-T Merlin IIIB |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | VH-LDQ |
| MSN: | T-326 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Serious incident |
| Location: | Gunnedah Airport, NSW (GUH/YGDH) -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Gunnedah Airport, NSW (GUH/YGDH) |
| Gold Coast, Queensland | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot commenced the take-off run on runway 29 at Gunnedah Airport, Australia. The pilot stated observing something on the runway surface in the distance, but thought the areas were patches on the pavement. As the aircraft accelerated, it became apparent that there were two holes excavated from the runway pavement. The pilot attempted to avoid the holes but was unable to clear them with the left main undercarriage.
The aircraft sustained damage to the left main undercarriage assembly that resulted in it collapsing and the left propeller striking the ground. The aircraft left the runway and came to rest outside the flight strip.
The local council had submitted NOTAM information the previous day to close the airport for runway pavement works between 0700 and 1500 on 20 August 2020. The excavations had been made during the morning of 20 August. A white cross to signify the runway was closed, was in the signal area near the windsock from the closure time stated in the NOTAM – visible for landing aircraft. The pilot noted that there were no visual cues to indicate works in progress.
The ATSB found that during pre-flight planning, the pilot had not checked for relevant NOTAMs, including one stating that Gunnedah Airport was closed due to works in progress. Prior to entering the runway and commencing the take-off run, the pilot did not see evidence of the runway works.
A white cross had been placed at the main windsock, visible to aircraft arriving overhead, however, when the pilot had landed the previous afternoon the aerodrome was still open. Further, there was no works safety officer on site or any ground-visible unserviceability markings on the runway, as required by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 139 Manual of Standards (MOS) for Aerodromes. Aerodrome works staff were not aware of the updated MOS requirements that had come into effect 7 days earlier and had interpreted the superseded MOS to not require unserviceability markings if the whole aerodrome was closed.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2020/08/20/lucky-pilot-escapes-harm-after-plane-crashes-off-gunnedah-runway/
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHLDQ
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/aair/ao-2020-056/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Aug-2020 06:32 | gerard57 | Added |
| 20-Aug-2020 08:02 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Source] |
| 20-Aug-2020 11:33 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Narrative] |
| 20-Feb-2021 19:49 | harro | Updated [Time, Location, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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