ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 76646
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| Date: | Wednesday 1 September 2010 |
| Time: | 18:27 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six E |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | G-BBSM |
| MSN: | 32-7440005 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | North Sea, about 3 miles off Orford Ness lighthouse, Suffolk -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Donaueschingen-Villingen, Germany (EDTD) |
| Hardwick, Suffolk | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The aircraft was flying from Donaueschingen-Villingen, Germany to Hardwick, England at a cruising level of FL060 (6,000 feet) in VMC. At the commencement of the sea crossing, the pilot briefed the passenger on the safety procedures to follow in the event of a ditching.
Approximately 17 nautical miles before reaching the English coast, they both smelt a burning smell and opened the cabin air vents and the direct vision window to clear the fumes from the cabin. The smoke and burning smell persisted. The engine was by now running roughly and the EGT was high, prompting the pilot to reduce engine power.
He declared a MAYDAY to London Information and prepared to ditch the aircraft, as the sea conditions were favourable and he considered that a glide to the coast was unlikely to be successful.
The pilot reminded the passenger of the ditching procedures, including the importance of not inflating the life raft prematurely and they wedged the cabin door slightly open. Because of concerns about a possible fire in the engine compartment, he shut the engine down by closing the throttle and selecting the mixture and fuel selector to off.
As the aircraft descended, he became aware that he might be able to reach land, but decided the best option was to continue with the ditching as planned, as the sea conditions were good and there were several boats in the area. He turned the aircraft into the wind and concentrated on the touchdown.
The aircraft touched down in a wings-level attitude. The pilot reported the impact was violent and the deceleration was rapid; “it felt like the undercarriage had tripped us forward”, he commented. The aircraft settled nose-down and water ingress into the cabin was faster than he expected. The occupants’ egress was slightly impeded by cables and headset leads, but once onto the wing they successfully deployed and inflated the life raft.
The raft’s drogue became temporarily entangled but was freed before the aircraft sank. The aircraft was not recovered and therefore it was not possible to determine the cause of the burning smell and other reported symptoms.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422fb9340f0b613460008e3/Piper_PA-32-300_Cherokee_Six__G-BBSM_02-11.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BBSM
3. http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/two-rescued-after-plane-crash-at-sea-1-623052
4. http://www.airliners.net/photos/airliners/3/4/3/0997343.jpg (photo)
5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-11167980
6. http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/miraculous-escape-after-air-crash-on-suffolk-coast-1-808850
7. https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/dad-survives-plane-crash-into-sea-1-1564815
8. http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/09/light-aircraft-crash-landed-onto-sand.html
9. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000258171L.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Sep-2010 02:52 | sirjames111 | Added |
| 02-Sep-2010 05:43 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Sep-2010 05:44 | Anon. | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Phase, Source] |
| 02-Sep-2010 05:53 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Sep-2010 12:34 | Anon. | Updated [Registration, Cn] |
| 02-Sep-2010 12:37 | angels one five | Updated [Registration, Location, Narrative] |
| 03-Sep-2010 15:29 | capper1 | Updated [Registration, Cn] |
| 04-Sep-2010 02:46 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Source] |
| 14-Oct-2012 14:46 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 14-Oct-2012 14:48 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Embed code] |
| 22-Feb-2015 18:41 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Embed code] |
| 23-Nov-2016 16:37 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Source] |
| 23-Nov-2016 16:40 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 23-Nov-2016 16:57 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 23-Nov-2016 16:58 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 19-Dec-2020 09:51 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Narrative, Accident report] |
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