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Piper Chieftain VH-MZK flight WW904 crash in Spencer Gulf SA 8 fatalities…
Piper Chieftain VH-MZK flight WW904 crash in Spencer Gulf SA
8 fatalities
Failed Ditch Attempt
Pilot lacked ditching experience
No focus Whyalla Airlines operations manual
No focus in Whyalla Airlines induction program
Poor visibility
Weather was Overcast
Late Autumn/early winter SA
Flight conducted at night
Flight scheduled for departure at 1815
Whyalla Airlines flight schedule
Lack of procedures
No double engine failure procedure
Wasn't required
No ditching procedure
no guidance material provided
sub-optimal safety culture
Piper Chieftain Aircraft non-operational
Right engine Failure
Localised melting of the #6 cylinder head and piston
Hot combustion gases able to bypass piston rings
Overheating of combustion chamber
Combustion end-gas detonation
rich fuel-air mixture from high power setting
increased power setting to compensate loss of left engine
New pilots taught to use richer fuel mixtures
Left engine failure
Fractured camshaft at #6 connecting journal
Fatigue cracking
Planar discontinuity on the journal surface
Localised thermal expansion of the nitrated journal surface, resulted in damage to #6 connecting rod big end bearing
Higher bearing loads from excess lead oxybromide deposits induced pre-ignition
Lower bearing retention forces
Inclusion of anti-galling compound between bearing and housing
Piper Chieftain crashworthiness/survivability
Minor impact injuries
no upper body restraints
Piper PA31-350 design
Pilot and passengers drowned
No life jackets or flotation devices