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A large bird carcass was found in the cockpit of an Air Tractor aerial application aircraft which had collided with the ground during spraying operations on a property near Chinchilla, Queensland, a preliminary report from the ATSB’s on-going investigation details.
The preliminary report contains no analysis or findings but details information from the investigation’s early evidence collection phase, and notes that the Air Tractor AT-502B had been conducting spray runs on the morning of 19 September 2022.
Around 1200, the loader at the private airstrip about 24 NM (44 km) south-east of Chinchilla from where the Air Tractor had been operating attempted to call the pilot to ask whether they needed more fuel.
Concerned with having received no response, the loader phoned the operations manager, who in turn contacted nearby farmers to assist with locating the aircraft.
At about 1215, a local farmer found the aircraft in the paddock where the pilot had been spraying. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
“An ATSB examination of the accident site found that the aircraft had impacted terrain with the fuselage in a near vertical attitude, with its propeller and engine buried in the soft earth, and the wreckage contained to a small area,” said ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godley.
Ground scars and damage to the left wing indicated that the wing struck the ground at about 30° to the horizontal, and examination of the propeller and engine indicated that the engine was delivering power at the time of the impact.
There was no post-impact fire.
“A large bird carcass was found in the cockpit and the bird’s wings were located about 300 m north of the wreckage, in-line with the aircraft’s track,” said Dr Godley.
Biological residue from the bird was found outside the right cockpit window.
“At the request of the ATSB, the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics at the Australian Museum analysed biological specimens of the bird, identifying them as being from an Ardeotis australis, commonly known as an Australian bustard or Plains turkey.”
The Australian bustard is a large bird, 80 to 120 cm in height, with an average weight for an adult of 4.5 kg, with males weighing up to 8 kg. They are capable of flying but are mostly ground dwelling.
“The aircraft operator advised that for the field where the accident occurred, they expected that it would be sprayed at a height of about 2 m (6 ft) above the ground, to be just above the weeds.”
Dr Godley noted that the investigation is continuing, and will include research into the nature of birdstrikes and similar occurrences.
“Bird strikes resulting in fatal aircraft accidents are very rare, however, the ATSB is currently investigating a separate accident where a wedge-tailed eagle bird carcass was located near the accident site of a Bell LongRanger helicopter, which experienced an in-flight break-up near Maroota, New South Wales on 9 July 2022.”
The continuing investigation into the Chinchilla accident will include further review and examination of electronic components recovered from the accident site, operational documentation and maintenance records.
A final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation
“However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” Dr Godley said.
Read the preliminary report: Birdstrike and collision with terrain involving Air Tractor AT-502B, VH-KDR, 32 km east-north-east of Chinchilla Airport, Queensland, on 19 September 2022