The wreckage of the Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk aircraft that crashed into houses in Peel Green, Eccles, in July 2011, and inset, pilot Ian Daglish who was killed in the crash
Ian Daglish, 59, from Alderley Edge, was flying a light plane which crashed into houses in Peel Green, Eccles , on July 29, 2011.
He had 400 hours of flying experience before the crash, which a jury at Bolton Coroner’s Court described as ‘catastrophic’.
Mr Daglish was conscious when he arrived at Wythenshawe Hospital , but died two days later as a result of burns and inhalation of fumes.
His passenger, Joel McNicholls, 20, survived, but has been left with severe burns.
The plane stalled when it’s engine stopped at 200ft and the pilot then had a three-second ‘window’ to regain control – which assistant coroner Kevin McLaughlin described as ‘virtually impossible’.
A jury concluded that ‘significant wear of the aircraft’s fuel valve and shaft resulted in the reduction of power which was most probably the cause of the incident’. A narrative verdict was recorded.
The marketing consultant’s death came just six weeks after he had received training in how to deal with engine failure.
“It couldn’t have been more pertinent,” said Mr McLaughlin. Three months earlier, the father-of-two had a medical which concluded that he was in good health.
His wife, Joy, described him as being in ‘excellent general health’. He was also described as ‘alert and sensible’.
Mr McLaughlin told her: “Your heart must be close to breaking. I know that inquests can churn up raw emotions.”
The jury heard investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) raised concerns about the stiffness of the valve following its examination.
Adrian Cope, who has 17 years’ experience, said it was ‘very stiff to turn’.
The two-seater Piper PA38 Tomahawk was built in 1978 and is now out of production.
Jeff Nuttall, managing director of Liverpool-based flying school Ravenair, which owned the aircraft, said it was ‘not unusual to have an aircraft for 45 years’ and noted that a plane’s life is determined by the number of hours flown, rather than age.
There are no regulations as to how stiff a fuel valve should be.
The jury concluded that the aircraft was ‘serviced in accordance with a service letter’ and had passed inspections.
After the inquest, a Ravenair spokesman said the firm had complied with all regulatory and maintenance issues. He said Ravenair hoped to provide the Daglish and McNicholls families with some closure.
He added: “Ravenair’s priority has been to understand the cause of this unfortunate incident, so as to ensure – as far as possible – no possible recurrence in the future.”
The spokesman said they did not believe the most probable cause had been established.
Story and Photo: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Report: http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins
Summary:
The aircraft suffered an engine stoppage on takeoff at approximately 200 ft, stalled, rolled more than 60ยบ to the left, crashed into houses and caught fire. Both occupants survived the impact and fire but the pilot succumbed to his injuries later in hospital. The most likely cause of the engine stoppage was stiffness of the fuel selector valve causing it to be in an intermediate position, reducing fuel flow to a level too low to sustain continuous engine operation.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Piper%20PA-38-112%20Tomahawk%20G-RVRF%2004-12.pdf
NTSB Identification: CEN11WA538
Accident occurred Friday, July 29, 2011 in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Aircraft: PIPER PA38, registration:
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On July 29, 2011, about 1123 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Piper PA-38-112 airplane, United Kingdom registration G-RVRF, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. One occupant of the airplane was fatally injured, and the second occupant was seriously injured in the accident. The exact flight itinerary has not been established at this time.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the United Kingdom. Any further information may be obtained from:
Air Accidents Investigation Branch
Berkshire Copse Road
Aldershot
Hampshire
GU11 2HH
United Kingdom
Tel: 01252 510300
Web site: http://www.aaib.gov.uk
This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained from the Government of the United Kingdom.
