Caernarfon: Aircraft involved in fatal crash clipped trees before it hit ground
The crash which killed Ian Nuttall from Blackburn was possibly caused by the carburetor icing up a report has found
A light aircraft flew low over a caravan park before clipping a tree and crashing just inside an airport boundary, killing a passenger, an official report reveals.
The single-engined Piper Cherokee suffered a loss of power approaching Caernarfon Airport possibly caused by the carburetor icing up, the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) suggests.
Iain Nuttall, 37, from Blackburn, died in the accident on May 19 2013 . He was a passenger in the plane with his father John flying and his son Daniel a back seat passenger when the aircraft hit the ground nose-down after hitting the tree.
Iain Nuttall was pronounced dead at the scene and there was evidence to suggest he was was not wearing a seat belt.
The other two were airlifted to hospital. The boy had serious head injuries while his 61-year-old grandfather had serious lower limb injuries.
They were on a day out from Blackpool.
Witnesses said the aircraft’s approach path appeared normal but the plane was then seen to get very low and was flying slowly.
The report states: “One witness’s attention was drawn by an unusual noise. He reported the engine was ‘trying to pick up and popping’ and he had the impression the pilot may have pumped the throttle three or four times. Another reported hearing the engine ‘spluttering and seemed to backfire’.”
AAIB officials who examined the wreckage found bolts holding the wings to the airframe were missing but their absence had had no effect on the handling of the aircraft during the fatal flight.
They also found engine checks had not been carried out as specified by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The report said Mr Nuttall had completed his training for a pilot’s license in October 2006.
“A proficiency check was carried out on April 14 2010 to re-validate his rating, this remained valid until April 14 2012. At the time of the accident the pilot’s logbook and licence did not show evidence of a more recent re-validation or renewal.”
The report concludes: “There were differences in the techniques for use of carburetor heat between the actions contained on the pilot’s kneeboard checklist, and the method taught by the instructor.
“Following the accident the pilot could not remember exactly when or for how long he had applied the carburetor heat, but the selector was found in the cold position after the accident.
“The surface temperature/dewpoint split indicated by the meteorological reports in the area suggested that carburetor icing could be expected at any power setting.
“The time it would take for a significant amount of ice to form within the carburetor is unknown but in suitable conditions it can happen rapidly,” it said.
Story and photos: http://www.dailypost.co.uk
Report: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee G-ATRR 06-14.pdf
Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, G-ATRR
Location: Caernarfon Airport, Gwynedd
Date of occurrence: 19 May 2013
Summary: The aircraft was making an approach to Runway 26 at
Caernarfon Airport when it struck a tree. The pilot reported that he had
suffered a loss of power at a late stage of the approach and had been
unable to reach the airfield. The investigation did not find any
evidence of a failure within the engine but the atmospheric conditions
were conducive to carburetor icing.
Report: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee G-ATRR 06-14.pdf
A plane crash at Caernarfon airport, in which a passenger was killed, may have been caused by ice in the engine, a report has said.
Iain Nuttall, 37, from Blackburn, died when the Piper Cherokee flown by his father lost power and hit a tree at the airfield in May 2013.
The Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) said Mr Nuttall might not have been wearing his seatbelt at the time.
Its investigation did not find any mechanical faults with the engine.
Pilot John Nuttall, 61, hired the four-seater plane at Blackpool Airport and took off at 10:30 on 19 May with son Iain and grandson Daniel, five, on board.
Iain Nuttall Iain Nuttall, 37, was a passenger in a plane flown by his father
Witnesses at Caernarfon told investigators the plane was flying very low, slowly and was making spluttering noises before hitting a tree.
It crashed nose down just inside the airfield boundary, killing Iain Nuttall.
His father and son survived, but both were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Pilot Mr Nuttall had held a licence since 2006 and was familiar with the route. The report said the weather conditions were suitable for the flight.
But investigators said conditions meant ice could have interfered with the plane's carburetor.
"The investigation did not find any evidence of a failure within the engine but the atmospheric conditions were conducive to carburetor icing," the report said.
The report also stressed the importance of wearing a seatbelt, given Mr Nuttall and his grandson survived.
Story and photos: http://www.bbc.com
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