Date & Time:
Oct 3, 2022 at 1338 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
VH-WQA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saibai Island - Horn Island
MSN:
494
YOM:
1975
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
250
Aircraft flight hours:
14081
Circumstances:
On the afternoon of 3 October 2022, a Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander BN2A-21, registered VHWQA and operated by Torres Strait Air, was conducting a non-scheduled passenger air transport flight from Saibai Island Airport, Queensland (QLD) to Horn Island Airport, QLD. There was 1 pilot and 6 passengers (students) on board. About 19 km NE of Moa Island both engines began to surge. The pilot diverted towards Kubin Airport on Moa Island. As the aircraft passed to the south of the township of Saint Pauls, the pilot determined there was insufficient altitude remaining to reach the airport. As a result, the pilot conducted a forced landing on a road 7 km ENE of Kubin Airport. There were no reported injuries to the pilot or the passengers. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Probable cause:
The ATSB found that the dual engine speed fluctuations and associated power loss was probably the result of fuel starvation. The mechanism was not conclusively determined, however it was identified that the pilot did not operate the aircraft's fuel system in accordance with the aircraft flight manual, and that the configuration and location of the aircraft’s fuel controls and tank quantity gauges were probably not conducive to rapid and accurate interpretation. The aircraft manufacturer released a service letter in June 2022 that detailed an optional modification to centralize the fuel system controls and gauges, however this modification was not fitted to VH-WQA. The ATSB considered that these factors increased the risk of inadvertent fuel tank selection.
Final Report:
VH-WQA.pdf1.22 MB
