Fuel Policy Cited In Air Crash Probe
Illawarra Mercury
Monday May 21, 2001
A company policy of conserving fuel is the likely cause of the Whyalla Airlines plane crash in which eight people died, according to a leaked report.
A draft report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the use of lean fuel, where fuel flow to the engine is reduced, affected the fuel-to-air ratio and made engines run hotter.
The report also said the management policy of the airline was found to encourage fuel leaning practices which had unintended consequences, including engine damage.
``The chief pilot appeared to place a greater value on conserving fuel during company flight operations," said the report which has been released to parties involved in the investigation.
A Whyalla Airlines Piper Chieftain passenger aircraft crashed into Spencer Gulf near Whyalla on May 31 last year killing all on board.
Whyalla Airlines has since been grounded and surrendered its operating certificate to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
The chief pilot of the company, Chris Brougham, was unavailable for comment, however reports suggested he strongly disputed the findings in the leaked draft report.
The ATSB would not comment on the leaked report but confirmed a draft report had been released to parties involved in the investigation.
Those parties have a month to provide comments on the draft report as part of the ongoing investigation.
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury
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