The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is looking at handling characteristics, fuel system design and the effect of a maximum engine rpm setting higher than specified in its investigation of the Neico Aviation Lancair 360 crash at Sydney’s Bankstown airport last month, which killed Australian Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association president Ron Bertram. The bureau’s ongoing investigation will also consider the operation of experimental category aircraft over populated areas.
Bertram was conducting circuits at Bankstown in the kit aircraft to check its operation after repairs had been made following an earlier landing accident, the ATSB says in its preliminary report.
The ATSB has found no pre-impact structural, flight control, key fuel system components or engine/propeller assembly defects, but it has discovered that the engine speed was set to about 2,950rpm instead of the 2,700rpm specified for this engine type.
Source: Flight International
