Both engines failed in Raglan plane crashhttp://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/1...an-plane-crash/Both engines of
2Degrees boss Eric Hertz's aircraft appeared to have failed before it crashed into the sea near Raglan, killing him and his wife Kathy.
In an interim report released by the Civil Aviation Authority on Friday, investigators said it appeared both propellors of the Beechcraft Baron weren't spinning when the aircraft hit the water.
The accident happened at Easter, as the pair flew from Auckland to Timaru to visit their daughter.
The wreckage was recovered almost intact from the seafloor, 59 metres below the surface, and investigators have been examining it for clues as to why it crashed.
Examination of the aircraft's propellers indicated that they were "under little or no power" when they hit the water, said acting director of Civil Aviation Chris Ford.
Mr Hertz had radioed air traffic controllers to say he had an emergency and was
experiencing problems with both engines.
Radar evidence also showed that 30 minutes into the flight, after reaching its cruise altitude of
18,000 feet, the aircraft's groundspeed decreased sharply before it
hit the water about 90 seconds later.
(Not too sure if this is a journalistic typo but the "usual" cruise altitude for a Baron would be 8 - 10,000 ft unless it was turbocharged and fitted with an oxygen system. In any case, to lose 18,000 feet in just 90 seconds is a phenomenal rate of descent! It was also reported that both props were unfeathered. From 18,000 feet, a controlled glide would have easily returned 25 - 36 nm, back over land to Raglan and almost to Hamilton. Losing both engines at the same time is also kinda unusual. Speculation: fuel contamination or over-leaned engines and they seized? Seems the impact with the water was pretty hard, too. The fuselage was bent where the double doors are (one came off and was spotted floating). Very tragic whatever the outcome - I met Eric a couple of years ago at Ardmore and had a great chat with him - really nice guy (I was photographing the plane & offered to help push the same Baron into his hangar - he'd just returned from Queenstown - he jokingly asked me if I wanted to buy it. - KE)There were no immediate safety recommendations to be made in the interim report, Mr Ford said.
"Our investigation into the accident continues, and we remain open minded as to the cause or causes. There is still a lot of work to be done."
Investigators will now look at the aircraft's maintenance history, Mr Hertz's background and flying experience, the Air Traffic Controller voice recording and weight and balance calculations, among other things.
Mr Hertz's Beechcraft Baron G58 was built in the United States in 2006, and he imported it when he moved to New Zealand.
CAA officials have been in contact with aviation safety officials in the US as part of their investigation.
A final report may be released sometime this year.
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:47 pm