Most of you will already be very much aware of the accident to VH-MTC when it was landed on the Brooker Highway after an engine failure over the Derwent River

The accident is at the moment still a matter under investigation by the ATSB (Air Transport Safety Bureau) and no resolution has yet been made regarding the causes of this accident. Consequently, it is not appropriate to make any public comment on the specifics of this accident other than to say that it was indeed very fortunate that there was no injury to the pilot or to any member of the public.

There are of  course lessons that we can draw from this of a general nature. Almost all accidents are a result of a chain of events coming together, where if any one of the individual events had been avoided the accident would not have happened.

In this regard, all pilots are reminded that before every flight you must take care to ensure that all factors that relate to the safety of the flight are duly considered. These include the state of the aircraft both in its physical condition and documentation, fuel and loading, your competency to conduct the flight (both in relation to your skill level and how you feel on the day) and of course the weather conditions. If in doubt about any factor, you should not undertake the flight, but seek appropriate advice from a qualified person.

On investigation of the clubs documentation, it has been noted that in many cases  fuel and oil records are not being kept properly If you put fuel or oil into an aircraft you must record the details in the flight sheet log. This is a legal requirement.

In addition, when flying in a club operated aircraft, you must record your expected time of return on the flight booking sheet when you book the aircraft out as well as your proposed route or destination.

When flying you should attempt to keep in your mind what you would do if there is an engine failure at all times and especially so when flying near built up areas. If this (thankfully unlikely) event happens to you, you will be at an advantage if you have already got some idea in your mind as to what you would do in the result of an engine failure.