Pilot makes a forced landing on Collaroy Beach due to engine problems
On a supremely beautiful warm and sunny Sydney day,.. with scarcely a breeze in the air,..a light aircraft came out of nowhere to land on a section of Collaroy Beach South,.. (bordering Narabeen Beach). A young couple and their Baby had a lucky escape after they were forced to land their Italian made light plane on the beach,.. in what could have been ,. as one eye witness volonteered a “catastrophe!”
Fortunately the tide was low (it is frequently very high on this part of the coastline creating serious sand dune erosion and requiring extensive beach fortifications especially near the oceanpool at South Collaroy) and there were no beach pedestrians in the immediate vicinity,.. when the plane glided down on to the beach.
According to eyewitness reports:”The plane just floated down from the sky and it lost altitude very quickly coming to rest on the sand”
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According to an official statement from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau “the pilot had to make a forced landing due to an engine issue.”
Onlookers said “the pilot executed an excellent touch down” and paramedics assessed the trio at Collaroy Beach at about 2:00pm. The aircraft is a Tecnam P2008 which is made in Italy and was designed for the US market ,..Witnesses said they heard the “engine sputtering” as the plane approached the beach for landing.
According to company information the Tecnam P2008 is a two-seat aircraft that is suitable for either the training role or for the pilot who just wants to be able to travel in comfort and efficiency in his own aircraft with just one other passenger.The plane is powered by the 100-hp Rotax 912 ULS2 series engine coupled to a Sensenich two-bladed propeller. Aircraft performance is rated as good according to industry authorities.The TECNAM P2006T Twin has established itself as the aircraft of choice for not only the world’s most reputable flight training organisations, but private owners alike. It’s a firm favourite with leading general aviation flight-test journalists who praise its styling, handling and very low operating costs.
Paramedics assessed the trio at about 2:00pm today and concluded that the man and woman, did not require any treatment and their one-year-old child was apparently examined for signs of distress but did not need to be taken to hospital.
The pilot declined to be interviewed or to make a statement to the assemble media throng
Assemble Police,.. Fire brigade and Emergency Services staff were forced to await the arrival of representatives from the Recreational Aviation Australia who were expected to conduct an official investigation of the incident, before they could remove the aircraft for the beach.
Several beach buggies were used in order to tow the plane off the beach but became bogged, but later efforts were successful in removing the aircraft from the sand and away from the rising tide.