A WARNING issued to owners of amateur-built aircraft following the plane crash which killed Ralph Buchanan and Graham White last year has resulted in two more aircraft found to have questionable secondary locking systems.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A loss of elevator control was believed to be the cause of the crash, after evidence was found that lock nuts on the cable elevator control system on Mr Buchanan’s home-built Morgan Sierra 100 plane might have vibrated loose.
Following the crash, Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus), the non-profit organisation that regulates single and two-seat aircraft, issued a Recreational Aircraft Airworthiness Notice to owners and operators of amateur-built aircraft to conduct primary control system checks.
The notice required confirmation that all aircraft utilising the same control system had been inspected to ensure secondary locking devices were secure.
It advised owners and operators to inspect and secure the retaining nuts, either with lockwire or a high strength thread sealant, and made regular inspection of these nuts mandatory.
According to a report filed by the Coroner investigating Mr White and Mr Buchanan’s death, since the issue of the notice, RA-Aus had been advised of a further two aircraft in which the secondary locking systems were not appropriately secured.
“Also pertinent is the fact that in the aircraft kit produced by the manufacturer, no inspection plate was available on the wings to allow routine checks,” Coroner Doug Dick said.
“The manufacturer has contacted each purchaser of their aircraft kits and advised of a new requirement to create an inspection plate for this purpose.”
