Malum Nalu

Airlines PNG crash report not available...yet

The report into the Airlines PNG crash of October 2011 in which 28 people died will not be available for at least another 60 days, according to Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner Nema Yalo.

Yalo, flanked by his deputy Micah Mas, commissioner Minson Peni and chief executive David Inau told reporters last month that the report had been completed but was now going through a “directly involved persons (DIPS)” process to get comments

“The AIC would like to inform the people in the country that it has progressed its investigations into the accident involving Airlines PNG, on Oct 13, 2011, where so many passengers lost their lives,” he said.

“It is currently going through what is called the DIPS process, the report of the investigation being sent out to directly involved persons for their comments

“Directly involved persons would involve aircraft manufacturers or aircraft part manufacturers, for them to comment on the report, and also families of victims.

“AIC is currently going through that process.

“We have a report that has been done.

“Under the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements, we are not going to publish this or distribute it for public consumption at this stage.

“As to when this report will be ready, is really a matter of process and I must inform the public that it is not like investigating a simple traffic accident on the road.

“There are international civil aviation requirements and rules that must be followed.

“When aircraft accidents happen, like the Arlines PNG accident, you look at parts like propellors and engines being sent out to the manufacturers to analyse and that takes a lot of time.

“That will require experts to take a look, test it and the analysis comes back to the AIC.

“The AIC does not necessarily have to agree with any suggestions or any comments from directly involved persons.”

The report into the Oct 13, 2011 Airlines PNG crash in which 28 people were killed in Madang has been completed, according to Accident Investigation Commission chief executive David Inau.

The Airlines PNG de Havilland Dash 8-100, registration P2-MCJ performing flight CG-1600 from Lae to Madang with 28 passengers and four crew, was lost from radar about 20km south of Madang around 5pm.

The aircraft was later located on land about 20km south of Madang, on fire.

A total 28 occupants perished while both pilots as well as a flight attendant and a passenger survived.

No budget support for investigations into plane accidents

The PNG Accident Investigation Commission is disappointed that it has not been allocated any funding in the 2014 national budget to carry out investigations into plane accidents.

“In 2014, Accident Investigation Commission has not been allocated any funds for conducting investigations,” Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner Nema Yalo told reporterslast month.

“It’s provided funds just for emoluments.

“This is very important because the Accident Investigation Commission of PNG has to comply with international civil aviation requirements.

“That means that whenever accidents happen, AIC investigators must be on site immediately to ensure the aircraft are safe for investigations to begin immediately.

“If we have to salvage aircraft from underwater, that will require money, and if we don’t have money, we don’t go out and investigate because we don’t have the financial resources.

“We’re failing our obligations under the international civil aviation requirements.

“The importance of that is that the International Civil Aviation Organisation can bar international flights coming into Port Moresby or into the nation, and flying out of PNG.

“It has negative implications for our aviation industry.

“I’d like to call on the government to find money elsewhere and provide for accident investigation.”

Trainee pilot was a hero in November 2013 TropicAir crash

The Australian trainee pilot who was one of three people who lost their lives in the Tropicair Cessna Grand Caravan in Western last November helped the pilot from when the engine failed until it crashed, according to a preliminary report released by the PNG Accident Investigation Commission last month.


Wreckage of the aircraft being transported by barge to Panakawa.-Pictures courtesy of PNG Accident Investigation Commission.

Location of SAH in the river approximately 24 hours after the accident.

Ground witness marks on Kibeni airstrip.

On Nov 25, 2013, the aircraft registered P2-SAH departed Kamusi, Western, for Purari River, Gulf, at approximately 1.51pm on a charter flight.

The aircraft was carrying the pilot and nine passengers, one of whom, in the right pilot seat was a pilot about to begin training with the operator, plus freight and baggage.

“Approximately two minutes into the cruise there was a loud ‘pop’ followed by a complete loss of engine power,” the report said.

The pilot was assisted by the passenger in the right pilot seat, who switched on the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and began broadcasting ‘mayday’.

“Checking the database in the global positioning system (GPS), the pilot found the airstrip at Kibeni on the eastern side of the Palbuna River,” the report said.

“Kibeni airstrip is disused, uneven, and short but it was the only open ground in the area on which the pilot could attempt a forced landing.

“The pilot, assisted by the passenger next to him, tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine using the procedure in the aircraft’s quick reference handbook (QRH).

“The passenger continued to give position reports and to communicate with other aircraft.

At about 3,000 feet, the pilot asked for radio silence on the area frequency so he could concentrate on the approach to Kibeni airstrip

“The wheels contacted the ground three times but this did not slow the aircraft enough to enable the pilot to stop it before the end of the airstrip,” the report said.

“In order to clear the trees between the airstrip and the river, the pilot elected to pull up on the control column.

“The aircraft became airborne again, damaging the crown of a coconut palm as it passed over the trees between the end of the airstrip and the river.

“The pilot turned hard left and pushed forward on the control column to avoid stalling the aircraft.

“He levelled the wings before the aircraft impacted the water.

“The aircraft came to rest inverted and partially submerged, and immediately filled with water.

“After a short delay while he gained his bearings under water, the pilot was able to undo his harness and open the left cockpit door.

“He swam to the surface, opened the door at the rear of the fuselage, and helped the surviving passengers to safety on the river bank. “

After approximately 20 minutes, villagers arrived in a canoe and transported the pilot and surviving passengers across the river.

About 90 minutes after the accident, they were airlifted by helicopter to Kopi, located 44 km north east of Kibeni.

Cargo plane was overloaded with cigarettes, says preliminary report

A preliminary report into the Air Niugini cargo plane accident of Oct 19, 2013, in Madang reveals it was loaded with 330 cartons of cigarettes belonging to British American Tobacco which had not been weighed before they were loaded onto the aircraft.

P2-PXY where it came to rest in the creek.-Pictures courtesy of Accident Investigation Commission.

Aerial view of PXY and runway 07/25 in Madang.

Aerial view of PXY and ground witness marks.

The aircraft later failed to take off and ran off the runway, based on an assumption that the total load was 3, 710kg, according to the PNG Accident Commission preliminary report released last month,

“The operator’s cargo supervisor started after the accident that PXY had been loaded on the assumption that each carton weighed 12kg, but that the cartons had not been weighed before they were loaded onto the aircraft,” the report said.

The Avions de Transport Regional ATR42-320 freighter, registered P2-PXY, was taxiing to depart from the runway bound for Tabubil, via Mt Hagen, when the accident occurred.

There were three people on board, the pilot-in-command, first officer, and a DHC-8 captain on board whose function was to provide guidance during the approach into Tabubil.

The report said the pilot-in-command reported later that the controls felt very heavy in pitch and he could not pull the control column back in the normal manner.

“Flight data recorder information indicated that after approximately two seconds, the pilot-in-command aborted the takeoff and selected full reverse thrust, and he reported later that he had applied full braking,” it said.

“It was not possible to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway and it continued over the embankment at the end of the runway and the right wing struck the perimeter fence.

“This caused the aircraft to yaw to the right and it entered a creek beyond the perimeter fence at approximately 45 degrees to its direction of movement.

“The right outboard wing section caught fire and the flight crew escaped through the hatch in the cockpit roof.

“The pilot-in-command, who was the last to remain on board, discharged the fire extinguishers in each engine and switched off the battery master switch before leaving the aircraft.

“The Madang Airport Fire and Rescue Service responded promptly and a fire truck began to spray the fire in the right wing with foam and water.

“The foam and water were exhausted before the fire was full extinguished but the fire did not spread to the right inboard wing section.

“Almost immediately after the accident, local people entered the aircraft through the hatch in the cockpit roof and the right door at the rear of the fuselage and began removing items from the cockpit and the cargo compartment.

“The aircraft was seriously damaged during the accident by the impact with the airport perimeter fence, the fire and partial immersion in salt water, and subsequently by the salvage operation during which it was lifted out of the creek and moved to a position on the airfield.”

Morobe feelings

All pictures @MALUM NALU

These are aerials I took on from a TravelAir flight over the Huon Gulf, Lae, and Markham Valley last November as it came in for landing at Nadzab Airport.