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| Date: | Monday 17 October 2022 |
| Time: | 13:45 |
| Type: |  Mooney M20J 201 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | VH-UDQ |
| MSN: | 24-0588 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Engine model: | Textron Lycoming IO-360-A3B6 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Luskintyre Airfield (YLSK), NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Maitland Airport, NSW (MTL/YMND) |
| Maitland Airport, NSW (MTL/YMND) | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On 17 October 2022, at about 1345 local the pilot of a Mooney Aircraft Corporation M20J aircraft, registered VH-UDQ, departed Maitland Airport, NSW for a local flight. The pilot flew to Cessnock Airport, NSW and completed an orbit, then continued to Luskintyre airfield, NSW. When overhead Luskintyre airfield, the pilot broadcast their intent to track to Maitland Airport.
Witnesses near Luskintyre airfield reported observing the aircraft in what appeared to be descending to land. They further reported that smoke and flames were seen trailing the aircraft. At about 1359 VH-UDQ collided with terrain about 330 metres short of runway 30 with witnesses describing an explosion and accompanying fireball.
The aircraft was destroyed by an intense post-impact fire. The pilot survived the collision but eventually succumbed to injuries sustained during the accident.
The ATSB determined that an O-ring seal fitted to the engine-driven fuel pump outlet fitting remained in service until it became age-affected and failed to provide an effective seal. The escaping fuel from the age-affected O-ring seal ignited and created an engine compartment fire. In response to the fire, the pilot initiated an emergency descent towards the runway but subsequently landed in a field resulting in the aircraft impacting trees. That led to a break-up of the aircraft and a severe post‑impact fire that consumed the aircraft.
The ATSB also established that the aircraft had been recently refurbished. The refurbishment included repainting the aircraft and replacing interior furnishings with alternate materials. Neither the refurbishment activity nor details of the flammability assessment of the substituted materials, were recorded in the aircraft log books. The effect this refurbishment had on the in-flight fire, or the survivability of the pilot could not be determined.
In response to this accident, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority proposed to review Airworthiness Bulletins AWB 02-001 relating to on-condition maintenance, and AWB 85-004 regarding aircraft piston engine calendar time overhaul and most likely update them. The review would serve to highlight that ‘on-condition’ was not a ‘fit and forget’ approach to preventative maintenance.
The ATSB has issued safety advisory notice SAN AO-2022-049-001 in conjunction with this investigation report. The SAN draws attention to the proactive replacement of O-ring seals fitted to engines and engine components, should inspection of aircraft records indicate they have been in service for a significant period.
Piston engines, and the components necessary for their operation, installed in aircraft operating in the private or airwork category are permitted to remain in service beyond their recommended calendar time overhaul interval. As O-ring seals fitted to such engines are susceptible to deterioration due to age, being aware of their accumulated time-in-service may initiate replacement action before they fail.
Maintaining an aircraft’s internal appearance may require the introduction of alternate materials when original products may no longer be available. Aircraft owners are encouraged to document aircraft refurbishment action in the aircraft logbook and to include details of materials if substituted, and their suitability for use in aircraft interiors.
Contributing Factors:
(1) In response to an engine compartment fire, the pilot initiated an emergency descent towards the runway but subsequently landed in a field resulting in the aircraft impacting trees. That led to a break-up of the aircraft and a severe post‑impact fire that consumed the aircraft.
(2) An O-ring seal fitted to the engine-driven fuel pump outlet fitting remained in service until it became age-affected and failed to provide an effective seal. The escaping fuel ignited and created an engine compartment fire.
Other factors that increased risk
(3) The aircraft had recently been refurbished and changes included new external livery and replacement of interior furnishings. The aircraft records did not indicate that the refurbishment had been conducted, and consequently, there was no evidence of a flammability assessment for the materials used.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.camdencourier.com.au/story/7945155/plane-crash-man-found-lying-near-the-wreckage-aircraft-exploded-into-flames/?cs=305
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2022/aair/ao-2022-049
https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/UDQ
https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/1581871375006027782
https://twitter.com/atsbgovau/status/1581905129196122112
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/5/86093_1660959616.jpg (photo)
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 21 March 1995 | VH-UDQ | 0 | Dwellingup Airport (YDWG), Dwellingup, WA | |
sub | |
| Bounced on landing | ||||||
| 1 May 1996 | VH-UDQ | 0 | Wagin Airport (YWGN), Wagin, WA | |
sub | |
| Collision with pole or wires | ||||||
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Oct-2022 07:27 | harro | Added |
| 17-Oct-2022 07:35 | harro | Updated [Location] |
| 17-Oct-2022 10:56 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Oct-2022 10:58 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 19-Oct-2022 05:40 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-May-2024 18:02 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Phase, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 07-May-2024 18:02 | Captain Adam | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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