Date:	Monday 26 September 2011
Time:	08:58
Type:	Cessna 152
Owner/operator:	Basair Australia Pty. Ltd.
Registration:	VH-HCE
MSN:	15283791
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Nancy Ellis Leebold Drive, Bankstown Airport, Sydney, NSW -   Australia
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU/YSBK)
Destination airport:	Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU/YSBK)
Investigating agency:	ATSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
At 08:35 Eastern Standard Time on 26 September 2011, a flight instructor and student pilot in a Cessna Aircraft Company 152, registered VH-HCE, was operating at Bankstown Airport, New South Wales, on a training flight.

After a series of simulated rejected takeoffs, the aircraft departed runway 11 to conduct circuits. After completion of the second touch and go, at a height of approximately 200 feet, the engine gradually lost power. The instructor resumed control, and with minimal runway remaining, and engine power further reducing, identified a suitable grassed landing area. The instructor declared a MAYDAY to air traffic control and positioned the aircraft for an emergency landing.

After the main wheels contacted the ground, and just prior to nose wheel contact, the engine power suddenly increased. The instructor reduced the throttle to idle and continued with the landing. As the nose wheel contacted the ground it detached, the aircraft nosed-over and slid a short distance before coming to rest inverted in a field adjacent to Nancy Ellis Leebold Drive close to the airport. The instructor and student vacated the aircraft with no injuries.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was advised that VH-HCE landed on firm ground in
long grass. About 15 metres from the touchdown point there was a 300 mm high mound of dirt
(invisible in the long grass) which the nose wheel struck causing it to collapse.

A subsequent inspection identified a quantity of water in the right fuel tank that probably entered the tank via the right fuel cap receptacle following a period of heavy rain. Immediately following the accident the operator conducted a fleet check, identifying an additional aircraft with water contamination in the fuel.

1. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-118.aspx
2. http://www.theherald.com.au/news/national/national/general/two-walk-away-from-bankstown-lightplane-crash/2303818.aspx
3. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-26/no-injuries-in-light-plane-crash/2942544?section=nsw
4. http://express.whereilive.com.au/news/story/plane-crashes-near-bankstown-airport/
5. http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/3546873/ab-2012-019.pdf#page=39
6. http://web.archive.org/web/20110927043829/http://news.ninemsn.com.au:80/national/8351888/light-plane-crashes-into-sydney-carpark (Video, Air Traffic Control Recording, brief interview with pilot)
7. http://wavingataircraft.blogspot.com/2011/09/basairs-cessna-152-vh-hce-crashes-after.html

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

14 May 1988	VH-HCE		0	Bankstown Airport (YSBK), Bankstown, NSW		sub
Mid-air collision

VH-HCE being recovered after flipping over on hitting the ground just to the left of picture, off the RWY 11C end (vacant lot). Reportedly an “engine failure” on take off with both occupants walking away. As can be seen, aircraft sustained some damage to nose, gear & empennage, being lifted upright by crane (top left out of picture) hence the straps still attached.

Basair's VH-HCE Cessna 152 crashes without serious injury to pilot & passenger on take-off from Bankstown http://t.co/wt1PyYZ9

— stef (@stef747) September 26, 2011

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
25-Sep-2011 21:17	RobertMB	Added
26-Sep-2011 05:55	RobertMB	Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
02-Oct-2011 22:22	StewieG	Updated [Nature, Source, Narrative]
03-Oct-2011 00:19	StewieG	Updated [Source]
04-May-2014 00:59	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]