A file image of a RAAF PC-9 at East Sale.(photo : Australian Aviation)
18 May, 2011 DEFENSE STUDIES
The RAAF has grounded its fleet of Pilatus PC-9/A turboprop trainers after one crashed today at RAAF East Sale after a “suspected engine failure” during a routine training flight.
The accident, which occurred at around 3.15pm, saw the two crew – a QFI and instructor trainee from Central Flying School – eject safely “about 1 kilometre short of a runway, on the edge of the base”.
Base emergency personnel responded, with medics assessing the pilots as being in a stable condition before they were transferred to hospital where there are being kept for an overnight stay for X-rays and precautionary observation.
“As a precaution, all RAAF PC-9/A flying operations have been temporarily suspended, while the cause of the incident is fully investigated,” says a Defence Department statement.
“An Aviation Accident Investigation Team will be onsite at RAAF Base East Sale on Thursday 19 May to begin the investigation.”
This is the second engine incident and subsequent grounding to afflict the RAAF PC-9 fleet this year, after an engine fire on a 2FTS PC-9 taking off from RAAF Pearce in February.
(Australian Aviation)
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