PC-12 Primary Display Outage Being Investigated

The Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) is investigating an instrumentation failure involving a Pilatus PC-12NG, registered as VH-OWA and operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, over Western Australia on June 18. At about 300 feet during the initial climb at night, there was an instrumentation failure that compromised information on the primary flight display. The instrumentation returned to normal as the aircraft passed through about 850 feet, the report noted.

 

According to the ATSB, the single-engine turboprop (S/N 1115) had departed Meekatharra Airport at 1:45 a.m. for planned aerial work when the outage occurred. There were no injuries or any apparent damage to the aircraft. The ATSB preliminary report did not provide weather information at the time of the incident. An investigation into the cause of the failure is currently under way, with a final report expected to be issued next month.

According to aircraft records, PC-12NG S/N 1115 was manufactured in 2009 and is equipped with the integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite.