Weather a focus of fatal accident investigations

Following the release of two preliminary investigation reports into multiple fatal accidents where the aircraft involved were operating under visual flight rules (VFR), the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is again highlighting the actions pilots can take to avoid a weather or low-visibility related accident.

The ATSB has released the preliminary reports for the collision with water of Bell UH-1H Huey helicopter (VH-UVC), and the collision with terrain of Mooney M20J (VH-DJU).

Five people were killed in the accident involving VH-UVC, which impacted the ocean after last light at a time of reported severe weather near Anna Bay, New South Wales, on Sept. 6, 2019. Then on Sept. 20, 2019, a father and son died when VH-DJU collided with heavily-wooded terrain in the Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour, NSW, in forecast weather conditions of low broken cloud.

Both accidents are unrelated, but in both instances the flights were operating under visual flight rules, and neither pilot had qualifications to operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or at night, the preliminary reports establish. Further, both investigations will continue to look at the weather and environmental conditions at the time of the accidents, among a number of other factors.

“It is important to stress that both investigations are still in their early stages, and the ATSB will not publish its findings until the final investigation reports are released,” said ATSB executive director transport safety Nat Nagy.

“But the ATSB notes that weather and environmental conditions are a focus for both investigations, and weather-related general aviation accidents remain one of the ATSB’s most significant causes for concern in aviation safety.

“Weather and low visibility-related accidents often have fatal outcomes, which is all the more tragic because they are almost always avoidable.”

To remind VFR pilots of the dangers of flying into IMC, and to highlight the actions they can take to avoid a weather-related accident, the ATSB is currently running a safety promotion campaign titled “Don’t push it, DON’T GO – Know your limits before flight.”

“‘Don’t push it, DON’T GO’ highlights three key messages: the importance of thorough pre-flight planning and having alternate plans, that pressing on where there is the possibility of entering IMC carries a significant risk of spatial disorientation, and the value of using a ‘personal minimums’ checklist to help manage flight risks,” Nagy said.

“Pilots without a current instrument rating should always be prepared to amend and delay plans to fly due to poor or deteriorating weather and environmental conditions, and not to push on,” he added. “Have alternate plans in case of unexpected changes in weather, and make timely decisions to turn back, divert or hold in an area of good weather. Finally, setting expectations for your passengers beforehand can take the pressure off continuing with the flight if the conditions exceed your personal minimums.”

A total of 101 occurrences of VFR pilots inadvertently flying into IMC in Australian airspace were reported to the ATSB in the decade from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2019. Of those occurrences, nine were accidents resulting in 21 deaths.

Findings from ATSB previous investigations into aircraft accidents where a VFR pilot flew into IMC makes for sobering reading. A selection of those findings are published in the ATSB’s recently updated Accidents involving pilots in Instrument Meteorological Conditions publication.

“The ATSB encourages VFR pilots to learn from the experiences of others, to help build a robust understanding of the risks of flying into IMC and just how rapidly such accidents can happen,” Nagy said.

“Don’t push it, DON’T GO” follows on from a similar campaign the ATSB launched in 2018, titled “Don’t push it, LAND IT,” which was directed at helicopter pilots.

“Don’t push it, LAND IT” encouraged pilots to use their helicopter’s unique ability to make precautionary landings almost anywhere if faced with flying into IMC, fading day light or if something concerns them with their aircraft.

“Know your limits before flight,” Nagy said. “If you’re faced with deteriorating weather or if something just doesn’t feel right, don’t push it, make a precautionary landing. If you do decide to push on, it could be the beginning of an accident sequence.”