The Aviation Safety Council （ASC） releases final report on investigation of a HAWK ultra-light vehicle, a member of Taiwan Aviation Big Player Sport Association, crashed at a haystack area next to Koushe River embankment while carried out the flight activities.

On Jun 21, 2015, a HAWK ultra-light vehicle, took off from an airfield in Saijia Jiehao ,Pingtung, Taiwan with flying activity above Nanhua Saujia Bay airspace. The vehicle crashed on the ground with spiral descent and big bank angle, and led to the total loss of vehicle and the substantial injuries of the pilot.

The ASC launched investigation according to the Aviation Occurrence investigation Act after the occurrence. Investigation report was reviewed and approved by ASC's 38th Council Meeting on October 27, 2015.

Investigation Conclusions：The operator and the vehicle were not licensed to conduct ultra-light vehicle activities, which violated the regulations governing the ultra-light vehicle activities. The aileron torque arm of the vehicle was not properly maintained and suffered serious corrosion, causing the failure of aileron torque arm in flight, and losing control of ailerons. The operator subsequently decided to make a forced landing by circling descent, causing the vehicle to descend in steep bank attitude, thereby the vehicle crashed with high airspeed and descend rate, and led to the total loss of vehicle and the substantial injuries of the operator.

Safety Recommendations

Recommendations to Civil Aeronautics Administration, CAA：

1. Require ultra-light vehicle associations to forbid the ultra-light vehicle activities with unlicensed operators or vehicle, and all fly activities shall be conducted in airspace permitted by CAA

Recommendations to Taiwan Aviation Big Player Sport Association （ultra-light vehicle association） ：

1. Require all its members: Conducting all ultra-light vehicle activities with unlicensed operators or vehicle is forbidden. All fly activities shall be conducted in airspace permitted by CAA.

Full investigation report is available for download at ASC website: www.asc.gov.tw

Contact： Sherry Liu, Engineer
Tel: 89127388-330
Email: Sherry@asc.gov.tw