The pilot of a Bristell that stalled and spun before colliding with the ground at Moorabbin in December 2019 was not authorised to conduct the flight and did not have the necessary qualifications and skills to safely operate the aircraft, an ATSB investigation report released today states.
Soar Aviation Bristell VH-YVF was on approach to Moorabbin's 17L during a circuit session when the pilot elected to go-around after encountering a crosswind gust. During the go-around the aircraft pitched up, stalled and had started to spin when it hit the ground inverted. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was substantially damaged.
The ATSB investigation found that the pilot had done most of his training on Aeroprakt A32 Vixxens and was not cleared to go solo in the more complex and tricky Bristell.
“The ATSB identified that the student pilot did not have the necessary qualifications and skills to safely operate the Bristell aircraft solo,” said ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod.
“The student had undertaken only one supervised training flight in the Bristell, and that flight, which was curtailed due to deteriorating weather conditions, did not include any go-arounds, crosswind landings or stall training.
“Consequently, the student pilot’s familiarity with the Bristell was very limited.”
The pilot held both an RAAus Recreational Pilot Certificate (RPC) and a CASA Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) and was working towards a CPL, but had not completed the necessary training to take the Bristell out solo and didn't have an endorsement for the constant-speed unit fitted to the aeroplane.
In addition, the pilot had not followed Soar's solo-flight dispatch procedures, which would have identified that the pilot had not completed the training needed to be competent in the Bristell.
“The Bristell exhibits different handling characteristics to the other aircraft type the student pilot had previously operated,” Macleod said.
“Specifically, instructors reported that the Bristell is less docile and has a stronger tendency to pitch up when engine power is applied for a go-around.
“Instructors also reported that the Bristell has less elevator authority to counter the nose-up effect and a greater tendency to drop a wing during a stall.”
After a dual instructional flight the previous day, the student believed they had been cleared to go solo even though they acknowledged that the conversion to the Bristell was incomplete. The instructor who debriefed the flight stated they didn't specifically tell the student he was not cleared to go solo.
Soar Aviation modified its procedures to prevent a similar event happening again, but ceased operations and went into administration in December last year.