Australian safety bureau recommends tightening of fuel management for Piper Chieftan aircraft engines

Airline Industry Information, Dec 20, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has stated that there are about 100 Piper Chieftan aircraft still operating in Australia that could experience the same problem as that which brought down a Whyalla Airlines aircraft in May 2000.

The ATSB in its final report on the Whyalla Airlines accident indicated that lean fuel practices used by some operators of small aircraft could lead to a build-up of explosive residues in the engine, causing premature ignition. Further, the ATSB implicated the use of an internal lubricant by Textron Lycoming, an engine manufacturer, which caused a fatigue crack in the left engine crankshaft and contributed to the crash.

Ten similar engine failures in Australia have been investigated by the ATSB since January 2000, eight involving Textron Lycoming engines used in the 107 Piper Chieftans registered in Australia, and two Teledyne Continental TIO 510 engines, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The head of the ATSB, Kym Bills, has stated that since its investigation, recommendations had been made to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to tighten fuel-management and maintenance guidelines for the engine. According to Bills, "There are thousands of aircraft involved [worldwide] and it is an international piece of new evidence that hasn't been available before. No-one should be blamed for this tragic accident but there are important lessons to be learnt for engine manufacturers, operators, pilots and regulators to ensure it doesn't happen again."

The Whyalla Airlines Piper Chieftan aircraft plunged into the Spencer Gulf off South Australia on 31 May 2000, killing eight people. The aircraft was found to have experienced dual engine failure and it was discovered that the aircraft was not carrying any life jackets. CASA has recently announced that all small aircraft flying over water will be required to carry life jackets from 2002.

The engine failures suffered by the aircraft are believed to have been caused by the combined effect of the manufacturer's use of an internal lubricant and Whyalla Airlines' practice of lean-fuel running - a low fuel-to-air ratio used partly for fuel efficiency. Lean-fuel running is currently approved by the engine manufacturer and the FAA.

Australian Transport Minister John Anderson has stated that CASA would be implementing the report's recommendations as a matter of urgency.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))