Inquest into 2020 Lockhart River plane crash that killed five hears CASA had not mandated equipment that may have prevented tragedy
Family members of five men killed in a plane crash at Lockhart River wiped away tears as the coroner took aim at CASA for wavering on making a piece of equipment mandatory that could have prevented two tragedies.
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Family members of five men killed in a plane crash at Lockhart River three years ago wiped away tears as Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson took aim at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for wavering on making a $30,000 piece of equipment that would likely have prevented the tragedy mandatory in small aircraft.
Scott Watson, CASA operations standards manager since 2018, gave evidence on the third day of the inquest that CASA would consider recommendations made from the inquest.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report released late last year stated if the Cessna 404 with four passengers and a pilot had been installed with a Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS) it was likely the accident could have been avoided.
An inquest into the deaths of 15 people in a plane crash at Lockhart River in 2005, released in 2007, noted CASA had foreshadowed the mandatory fitting of TAWS by June 2005.
“If the incident aircraft, VH-TFU, had been fitted with a properly operating and fully functional terrain alert warning system (TAWS) it is probable that the accident would not have occurred,” Coroner Michael Barnes stated in that case.
Mr Watson said a 2018 working group initially proposed rules that would mandate TAWS to be fitted to turbine and twin-engine aircraft with a capacity of six to nine seats.
“Industry feedback in the context of the new rules and requirements was that the cost would be disproportionate,” Mr Watson told the inquest.
He said options to reduce costs had been under consideration by the federal government since 2009.
Former Air Connect chief pilot Grant Sindelar gave evidence earlier he would welcome TAWS being mandated and he estimated the cost to be $30,000.
“As the air operator, he wouldn’t be the one to bear the cost of retrofitting, it would be the owner, I don’t have any direct personal knowledge on how costs may or may not be passed on,” Mr Watson said.
Coroner Wilson said the general public would expect every time they got in an aircraft there were optimal safety features in place and asked what the impediments were for TAWS installation.
“The major impediment is cost,” Mr Watson responded.
“The time has come to say whether that is good enough,” Ms Wilson said.
“It is entirely appropriate to review whether previous decisions made should be revisited – I am seriously contemplating that type of recommendation.
“I have heard three days of evidence and industry pushback is not what it has been made out to be historically – flight instructors have given evidence they see a good reason why TAWS should be part of an appropriate system,” she said.
Mr Watson responded “it is somewhat simpler for the people who aren’t going to bear the cost to be entirely supportive of the system required, when they’re not actually the ones paying for it”.
Ms Wilson said the cost of installing TAWS could be covered by just a few flights.
“Twenty people have died in 18 years at the same airport and one recommendation made was to implement TAWS and there has been forewarning that will be the recommendation for Lockhart two,” Ms Wilson said.
“At the very least I could say to families, and I cannot, that all was done that could be done.
“As the nation’s leading regulator, there has to be more than just lip service, it is absolutely essential a commitment be made, no matter how difficult or costly it may be – the industry has been on notice for 20 years,” she said.
Qbuild workers Wayne Ganter, 63, Henry Roebig, 62, Wayne Brischke 57, and contractor Mark Rawlings, 49, left Cairns at 7.19am on a Cessna 404 bound for Lockhart River, and after one missed approach, the plane crashed into sand dunes, and they were killed along with Stuart Weavell, 36, on March 11, 2020.
The deaths in both accidents
Lockhart River crash March 11, 2020
Wayne Ganter
Henry Roebig
Wayne Brischke
Mark Rawlings
Stuart Weavell
Lockhart River crash, May 7, 2005
David Banks
Frank Billy
Fred Bowie
Mardie Bowie
Robert Brady
Timothy Down
Edward Green
Brett Hotchin
Kenneth Hurst
Gordon Kris
Noel Lewis
Paul Norris
Arden Sonter
Sally Urquhart
Helena Woosup
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Originally published as Inquest into 2020 Lockhart River plane crash that killed five hears CASA had not mandated equipment that may have prevented tragedy
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