What happened
A scheduled passenger flight departing from Port Augusta with a planned stop at Innamincka resulted in an accident during the departure phase. The aircraft was carrying the pilot, two passengers, and an observer occupying the co-pilot seat. Following the landing at Innamincka, the pilot refueled the aircraft while the observer performed checks on the oil levels for both engines. During this process, the observer encountered difficulty properly securing the oil filler cap and dipsticks. Although the pilot provided some guidance, the security of the dipsticks was not verified.
During the subsequent takeoff towards the north, the aircraft encountered a wind of 10-15 knots and a surface temperature of approximately 20 degrees C. Shortly after lifting off, during the initial power reduction, the observer noticed oil leaking from the right-side oil filler hatch. In response, the pilot increased power to both engines, but noted that the right engine failed to respond. The pilot attempted to execute a left turn to complete a circuit while trying to secure the right engine and feather the propeller.
As the aircraft maneuvered, it entered a right roll and the nose dropped, leading to an impact with the ground. The observer noted a continuous stall warning horn as the right wing descended. Despite the impact, all four occupants sustained injuries, but everyone successfully exited the aircraft via the main cabin door. The pilot assisted the passengers before returning to the airport to request emergency assistance.
Findings
- The observer struggled to secure the combination oil filler cap and dipsticks during pre-departure checks.
- The pilot failed to verify that the engine oil dipsticks were properly secured following the refueling and inspection process.