GippsAero GA8 Airvan crash, Feb 7, 1996, Latrobe Valley (...
GippsAero GA8 Airvan accident on February 7, 1996 near Latrobe Valley (Morwell), Victoria, Australia with no fatalities. Cause: Inadequate rudder hinge...
- Date: February 7, 1996
- Aircraft: GippsAero GA8 Airvan
- Location: Latrobe Valley (Morwell), Victoria, Australia
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Inadequate rudder hinge moment, which was masked during flight testing, left the rudder ineffective for spin recovery. Combined with an ineffective anti-spin parachute, extensive blanking of the fin and rudder, and extreme weight and centre of gravity, the aircraft could not recover from an intentional spin.
The prototype GippsAero GA8 Airvan was being spin tested at Latrobe Valley by its designer under a CASA permit to fly. After entering a left spin, the aircraft did not respond to recovery inputs, and the pilot jettisoned ballast and deployed the anti-spin parachute. The pilot bailed out, the aircraft stopped spinning at about 1,800 feet, and it then dived into the ground and was destroyed.