SA Air Force Passenger Pulls Wrong Lever, Ejects During Flight

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has established a Board of Inquiry for an unusual accident last week in which a civilian passenger accidentally ejected from a two-seat trainer during tight manoeuvres.

Times Online quotes an unnamed SAAF spokesman saying:

Much of the information has yet to be tested, but it is confirmed that a civilian passenger unintentionally ejected from a Silver Falcons Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra during a general flying sortie out of Langebaanweg Air Force Base this week. The passenger was recovered (by helicopter) unharmed, and returned to Langebaanweg. The aircraft landed safely.

Langebaanweg is an Air Force base in Cape Town. The Silver Falcons are South Africa’s national aerobatics team. The highly manoeuvrable Astra is also used as an initial pilot trainer in the SAAF. A former SAAF pilot instructor said the unnamed civilian joyrider was very fortunate not to have been injured. He said:

We train for this and if you don't get it right, and are not in the correct ejection posture, you can sustain severe spinal cord injuries or even worse. All it takes is for the firing handle to be pulled up about 2.5cm and you're on your way out. You get one almighty kick under the backside and then you're gone. The seat separates from the pilot automatically and the chute opens. This is in case the pilot is incapacitated during the ejection.

The report said no charges were expected as all briefings and procedures had been followed. The passenger would have been warned not to touch the yellow and black ”loop” between his legs unless the pilot called out: ”Eject, eject, eject!” Defenceweb reports that 35 of the trainer planes will undergo a cockpit upgrade. This will be done under supervision of the Swiss equipment manufacturer OEM. The website said the pilot, Captain Gerhard Lourens, is a member of the Silver Falcons and normally occupies the number four position in the five man team. Apparently the civilian passenger accidentally pulled the loop during a tight aerobatic manoeuvre. After his accidental ejection, Lourens circled to make sure he was safe.