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A Cessna 210 that landed wheels-up at Bankstown clipped the top of a tree and had to raise its nose at “the last minute” to avoid crashing into a building, the ATSB has revealed.
The safety body’s investigation into the landing, which took place in May, concluded a lack of fuel onboard and an “unbalanced flight” led to an engine failure that sparked the incident.
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Both the pilot, Jake Swanepoel, and his partner onboard emerged uninjured, while the aircraft only suffered minor damage.
The ATSB’s director of transport safety, Stuart Macleod, told pilots that fuel starvation occurrences can often be prevented by conducting thorough pre-flight fuel quantity checks combined with in-flight fuel management.
“Pilots are reminded to check fuel quantities prior to departure using a known calibrated instrument such as a dipstick,” he said.
The full ATSB report reveals how, on 26 May 2024, a Cessna T210M single piston-engine aeroplane was being ferried from Maitland to Bankstown, NSW, where it was to undergo maintenance. There was a pilot and a passenger on board.
During the approach to Bankstown, the engine stopped.
“The pilot identified a taxiway on the airport as a suitable place for a forced landing and elected to leave the flap retracted and the gear up in order to reduce drag and maximise glide range,” Macleod said.
During the approach, the aircraft “clipped the top of a tree” and the pilot was forced to raise the aircraft’s nose at the last minute to avoid a building.
Once the aircraft was over the airport, the gear was lowered, but it did not successfully lock in place due to the limited time available.
“The aircraft landed wheels-up, resulting in minor damage, but fortunately both occupants were uninjured.”
An ATSB investigation determined the aircraft departed Maitland with sufficient fuel to complete the intended flight, but it was likely that the fuel was reduced to a level that, combined with an unbalanced flight approaching Bankstown, resulted in the engine being starved of fuel.
The safety body also directed pilots to familiarise themselves with CASA’s Advisory Circular Guidelines for aircraft fuel requirements, which provides further guidance for in‑flight fuel management.
While it did not contribute to the occurrence, the ATSB also concluded that the pilot’s decision to carry non-essential crew on a ferry flight for maintenance placed the additional occupant at an unnecessary risk of injury.
“While the passenger was reportedly present to assist with navigation and radio communication, the ferry flight was conducted under a CASA special flight permit, requiring only essential operating crew be carried,” Macleod said.
“These conditions are in place to minimise the consequences if an incident occurs during such a flight.”
Finally, the report noted the pilot failed to complete the engine failure during the flight checklist, which, if followed, would have increased the likelihood of the engine being restarted in flight.
“Practising forced landings from different altitudes under safe conditions can help pilots prepare for an emergency situation.
“Being familiar with emergency checklists and your aircraft’s systems will assist in an emergency when identifying and managing an engine failure.”
