Finding into death of Charles Earl Swanson
Deceased
Charles Earl Swanson
Demographics
52y, male
Date of death
2021-04-04
Finding date
2023-04-26
Cause of death
Multiple injuries – aviation incident
AI-generated summary
Charles Earl Swanson, age 52, died from multiple injuries sustained in a microlight aircraft crash on 4 April 2021. The aircraft was configured with a wing and trike base that had not been approved by the manufacturer as a combined unit. During take-off, the rear cables from the wing came into contact with the spinning propeller, causing significant damage and loss of aircraft control. The aircraft stalled and crashed from approximately 40-50 metres altitude. The coroner found that flying microlight aircraft safely requires strict compliance with manufacturer-approved configurations and certification requirements. Key clinical lessons include the importance of adhering to approved equipment configurations and maintenance standards, and ensuring proper safety equipment use (helmet securing).
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Unapproved aircraft configuration combining trike base and wing not certified as compatible
- Rear wing cables contact with propeller during take-off
- Aircraft exceeding safe airspeed limit (86 knots vs 59 knots limit)
- Possible helmet dislodgement and contact with propeller
- Lack of proper helmet securing
Coroner's recommendations
- That the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia consider circulating to its members a safety notice which reinforces the importance of operating microlight aircraft only in the configuration that has been approved by the manufacturer
Full text
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Source and disclaimer
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