WESTERN Queensland MP Howard Hobbs has emerged unscathed from a forced landing in his private aircraft at a remote, heavily timbered cattle property north of Mitchell.
The MP for the electorate of Warrego was flying his single-engined Mooney from the family property near Tambo to Roma when severe engine trouble forced the emergency landing on December 30.
Mr Hobbs was halfway to Roma at 5500 ft when the engine began to misfire. Thinking the problem was a blocked fuel injector the MP, who has logged 3800 hours of flying time, reduced power in an attempt to fly on.
As Mr Hobbs and his son, fellow pilot, Will, discussed the problem by phone, increasing vibrations and noise from the stricken engine forced a change of plans and the MP changed course towards Mitchell airport, 65km away.
"I have flown over that country hundreds of times," Mr Hobbs said.
"There is a lot of timber out there; there are various airfields, but not all of them are serviceable."
He said it was the most worrying flying incident he had experienced.
"I did have a wheels-up landing at Charleville in 2001," Mr Hobbs said. "But this was much more serious."
Instruments in the aircraft, which monitor oil pressures and exhaust gas temperatures gave no indication of the problem.
In fact, the engine, which had operated for only 500 hours since a major overhaul, was disintegrating, with one of its cylinders broken away from the crankcase.
Just five minutes after turning the plane towards Mitchell, Mr Hobbs said the noise and vibration suddenly worsened and his light aircraft was sounding 'like a helicopter'.
Using an iPad program, Mr Hobbs found the nearest airstrip - at Forest Vale - and turned towards it.
"I rang Will and asked him to alert the station that I was intending a forced landing," Mr Hobbs said.
"But as I soon discovered, no-one was at home."
Unfortunately, the station airstrip was out of commission, disused and overgrown.
Mr Hobbs attempted a landing on a grass-covered laneway.
He was successful on his second attempt, but was unable to report his situation, either by phone or radio.
"It was pretty short and narrow," Mr Hobbs said.
"The phone reception dropped out and Will got just part of my message before I landed.
"The worst part of the whole ordeal was not being able to contact the family to tell them I was okay. Will in particular - he was worried the laneway was much worse than it was in real life.
Eventually, Mr Hobbs made radio contact with a Qantas Link aircraft and was picked up by a CareFlight helicopter, which was operating in the area.
The MP offered thanks to police at Roma, who alerted local residents and coordinated the search effort.
The damaged engine has been removed from the aircraft and the cause of the incident is still to be determined.
The engine will be replaced at Forest Vale and the aircraft flown back to Roma. "We might have to cut down a couple of trees, but it will be right to fly," Mr Hobbs said.
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