By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE pilot of the plane that crash-landed in Great Harbour Cay two weeks ago lacked a commercial pilot licence, did not have an up-to-date medical certificate and flew a plane whose airworthiness certificate expired in 2016, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

These details contravene civil aviation regulations and, on top of last week’s deadly crash off Andros, highlight the questionable oversight of the industry.

Police on Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, reported that the aircraft began experiencing engine problems and a controlled landing was performed near the airport as a consequence. The pilot received minor injuries. There were five passengers on board.

Cross-referencing information from the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department (BAAID) regarding aircraft accidents and incidents with information from the FAA’s database shows that most aircraft that experienced incidents last year had a valid airworthiness certificate. Whether the pilots of those planes all had requisite certifications is unclear, however.

Civil aviation regulations make it unlawful for a person to fly “in or over” The Bahamas unless there is a valid certificate of airworthiness rendered valid by the country in which the aircraft is registered. A person who flies a plane for commercial purposes without a valid licence also commits an offence. Such people, the law says, are liable on summary conviction to a fine no more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.

Last year, on June 29, a Cessna 340A suffered a landing gear collapse while the pilot was approaching the Treasure Cay, Abaco area. Although it was a general aviation operation as opposed to a commercial one, the FAA’s records list the status of the aircraft’s airworthiness as “in question,” noting that a certificate was never issued for the aircraft.

“There was a deterioration in the weather which prompted him to circle the vicinity to avoid it,” the BAAID wrote after the incident. “While on final approach to runaway 14 at Treasure Cay Airport, there was a sudden drop in altitude that the pilot described as a microbus that slammed the aircraft onto the runaway. After slamming into the runway, there was a collapse of the landing gear which subsequently led to the aircraft spinning out of control and then veering to the left runway 14. The aircraft received substantial damage to its undercarriage, propellers, etc, but the two souls on board only suffered minor injuries.”

In another instance last May, a Piper plane was involved in an “occurrence” at the Lynden Pindling International Airport when its landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to become disabled on the runway. No one was injured, though the aircraft was damage. The FAA’s records list the plane’s status as in “in question,” as it never received an airworthiness certificate.

In another instance, on January 2 last year, a Piper Aztec plane suffered a “fuel related occurrence.” A check of the plane’s FAA records show that it was deregistered in 2013 after it was exported and therefore lacked a valid certificate.

The BAAID said of the incident: “While inbound to land at Lynden Pindling International (Airport) from Stella Maris, Long Island, the pilot requested priority handling by Air Traffic Control due to concern regarding fuel exhaustion. According to the pilot, there was saturation of traffic at the time and weather was a factor as well, which prompted his concern. Air Traffic Control facilitated the request and the aircraft landed without incident. There was one pilot and one passenger on board with no injuries sustained.”

As for the plane and pilot involved in the Great Harbour Cay crash, FAA records show the pilot last got a medical in 2014 and only had a private pilot licence.