Incident Overview
During a skydiving display off Manly Beach, northeast of Sydney, a Norseman aircraft suffered an engine failure that resulted in a fire. The aircraft, owned and operated by Skyservice Aviation, was carrying eight parachutists and pilot Ken Andrews.
Sequence of Events
The engine failed and burst into flames while the aircraft was performing over the beach. All eight parachutists baled out of the aircraft, followed by pilot Ken Andrews at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Andrews was wearing a parachute and deployed it after exiting. As he descended under his parachute, the circling Norseman came very close to striking him.
Rescue
All nine occupants were rescued by boats that responded to the incident. The Norseman struck the sea approximately 6 miles off the beach and 5 miles southeast of Sydney Heads. No information about injuries or damage to the aircraft beyond the fire and water impact was provided in the source.
Probable Cause
The official findings attributed the incident to an engine failure in flight.