Warbird one tough aircraft...

[River]

Archerfield closed for 10/15 minutes with a Yak52 warbird incident...

 

The Courier-Mail

 

Cool head overcomes chaos

 

By Richard Finnila

 

November 22, 2006 11:00pm

 

A STUDENT pilot learning aerobatics ended up with more than he bargained for yesterday when his instructor gave him a crash course in crash landing in a paddock behind Archerfield Airport, south of Brisbane.

 

Veteran instructor Mal Beard was teaching his student how to make a touch-and-go landing when the propeller struck the tarmac, partly shattering one of the wooden blades.

 

Unable to regain full power, the pair were forced to land the rare Yak 52 fighter plane in a paddock peppered with trees. "There was absolutely no panic – I just took over control of the aeroplane and landed as best I could," Mr Beard said.

 

"It's what I call being prepared for an incident and trying to keep the options open."

 

The plane eventually came to rest against a gum tree. Mr Beard said the problem was sparked after the landing gear malfunctioned.

 

"The gear wasn't locked down apparently," he said.

 

Both men walked away from the crash. The 44-year-old student pilot was later taken to hospital for a check up after reporting minor pain to his neck and ankle.

 

Inspector Geoff Acreman praised Mr Beard for pulling off the miracle stunt.

 

"(It's) quite amazing actually, when you have a look at the fact that it doesn't have much of a propeller," Insp Acreman said.

 

"To have been able to put the aircraft's under-carriage down and land it in such a manner that neither the pilot nor passenger has been seriously hurt, I think is a bit of flying genius in my opinion."

 

The pair were returning to Archerfield Airport after a 40-minute aerobatics lesson.

 

Mr Beard, who has more than 35 years' flying experience, plans to repair the aircraft.

 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.

 

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In another news report on the same incident it is interesting to note the differences in the reporting...

 

This story is from AAP

 

The Australian

 

Pilot blames mechanical problems for crash

 

November 22, 2006

 

A PILOT whose light plane crashed in Brisbane's southwest today has blamed mechanical problems for the accident.

 

The dual control, single engined Yak 52 Russian Warbird crashed into a tree at the end of a runaway at Archerfield Airport shortly before noon (AEST) after problems with its landing gear.

 

Brisbane pilot Mal Beard today said he and his student had been practising aerobatics and touch and go landings before he noticed something was wrong with the aircraft.

 

But he said he had not panicked.

 

Authorities believed the propeller hit the tarmac and smashed during an attempted emergency landing.

 

In a second attempt, the plane's brakes had failed to slow the plane so Mr Beard steered it into a large gum tree.

 

Police praised the efforts of the instructor for averting a tragedy.

 

He was uninjured while his student was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with neck and other minor injuries.

 

The plane's front prop, undercarriage and wing were damaged.

 

Police and air crash investigators were examining the aircraft to find the exact cause of the accident.

 

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These reports again high-light the caution required when reading media reports of aviation accidents and as to their accuracy as the second news report makes the assumption the aircraft flew around for a second circuit with a 'smashed propellor' and then landed back on the runway but it's brakes failed..!

 

From what I heard on the radio/s, etc (and this is only myinterpretation of events as heard by radio comms it) appeared the aircraft either attempted to land without it's wheels down (or the undercarriage was not locked down?) and the propeller contacted the runway...

 

The instructor (who took over) then managed to have the aircraft climb, either re-cycle the undercarriage or lower the wheels?, no doubt shut down the engine, find a grass/dirt road off the end of the runway, miss the airfield boundary fence, land on the road with trees and scrub all around, roll along the road (not 100% straight) and with no options left, opt to miss the bloody large tree head-on and come to a halt with no fire, shaken, stirred but alive..!

 

And to make matters more concerning with Archer tower and rescue personal, theaircraft being military green in colour and as the aircraft did not burn -they were unable to find the aircraft for a while even though it was just off the end of the main runway, so-to-speak.

 

The tower even engaged the services of a nearby training chopper to assist in searching for it.

 

Whilst there may be questions as to how the incident occurred the pilot control of the situation appears to have been excellent.

 

What's that saying... No matter what happens, fly the aircarft...