Accident raises questions over engine failure training

Two Airnorth pilots were killed on Monday, when carrying out engine failure drills in their Embraer 120 Brasilia aircraft.  There was no one else on board the 30-seat turboprop.  It is understood that the pilots were carrying out practice engine failures during the take-off roll at the time of the incident.

Airnorth Cheif Executive, Michael Bridge, yesterday said that the training involved a 'V1-cut' of one engine.  He said that both pilots had performed this manouevre more than 50 times in their careers.  However, he did admit that the airline had plans to phase out training of this type on aircraft. The airline has been working to get certification for carrying out the training in flight simulators.

This specific manouevre is currently practised twice a year in training and pressure will grow to enusre this is the last time it is carreid out in the aircraft.  CASA, The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, who certify the airlines training are now facing demands to certify the airlines simulator training program. 

The training flight was being operated out of Darwin RAAF base when the accident occured.  The aircraft was reported by eyewitnesses to bank up to 45° as it crashed into scrub land near the airfield.  The commuter aircraft burst into flames instantly on impact.

The ATSB, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, commented that the incident is inkeeping with the effects of eninge-out training gone wrong.  However, they added that until a thorough investigation is completed other contributing factors could not be ruled out.  This could include mechanical failure of some description.

Source: The Australian