Kiwi Greg Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 NZ Herald is reporting a plane used in skydiving operations has crased into Lake Taupo today. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11383082
Kiwi Greg Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 A further update. 13 on board, engine failure after takeoff all on board exited the aircraft. A great result! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11383082 1
rankamateur Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Same link, full points to NZ Herald, they keep the updates coming. Good work getting six tandems out in time to give the pilot a shot too. I wonder did they brief the jumpers for a water landing?
cooperplace Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 1300m, over 4000 ft, reportedly, so they had some time. But it goes really fast descending with an engine failure. Doesn't say what sort of plane.
rankamateur Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 True, I thought I read 400m in the initial report before they updated it, it mostly was based on witness reports though, they have gone to a lot of trouble to update since then. It didn't say it was a Cessna. PAC XL750? They are a turbine, not likely to have an engine failure, especially a "putt, and conk out" one! although this one says it went off with a BANG! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11383120
cooperplace Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 brief for a water landing: plenty of time for that on the way down, they were tandems after all! Excellent job that no-one was hurt. 1
Guest ozzie Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Just talking to a friend that jumps on that DZ but aircraft was operated by the other operator. So far it was stated a catastrophic engine failure. covers a wide range of options. Everyone made land, the boats just brought them back to were there was road access. They were around 3 grand when it happened. Took 15 minutes to cut pilot out of monster blackberry bush. Musta been a big bang to coax the pilot out. Most have possibly seen this aircraft on TV in an advert. Pink PAC XL. Pratt and Whitney halo is slipping a bit, seems a rash of PT6 failures around the world over the last 12 months. CAA is giving the usual 'no confidence in participants' with a 'miraculous no one was killed' remark that has ruffled a few collars. Scott is keeping me informed so will see what he finds when they drag the mess out tomorrow. Also 7 pairs of tandems got spanked this afternoon in Melbourne when they pushed their luck (more like didn't look in the sky before they took off) and had very heavy landings in a storm Ozzie
rankamateur Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Full story at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/64754138/plane-crash-pilot-calls-boss-from-blackberry-bush This article in another thread quotes the pilot (Clemments) as engine failing at 2000', it isn't a lot of time to get your gear together.
kgwilson Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 This article in another thread quotes the pilot (Clemments) as engine failing at 2000', it isn't a lot of time to get your gear together. Strange that when I looked at the Incidents/Accidents forum I didn't even see the original thread. Must need new glasses.
Guest Russell1 Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Strange that when I looked at the Incidents/Accidents forum I didn't even see the original thread. Must need new glasses. Should have gone to SPEC-SAVERS...
Guest ozzie Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Brand new jump pilot. Looking forward to reading the incident report on this one. Quite a few contradicting press reports over exit height and where they landed.
pylon500 Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Musta been a big bang to coax the pilot out My feeling as well...? An empty Pac 750 would glide pretty well, but if it's caught fire, might be better to get out. 1
Oksinay Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 That's 2 XL750's down in NZ of recent times, fortunately nobody was killed in this one. Dare I ask how long before CASA makes a statistical "analysis" regarding these aircraft in jump ops in Oz?
jetboy Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 That's 2 XL750's down in NZ of recent times, fortunately nobody was killed in this one. Dare I ask how long before CASA makes a statistical "analysis" regarding these aircraft in jump ops in Oz? Umm I think the other one was a converted Fletcher ..... but anyway, this latest one doesnt bode well for passenger ops in single turbines like the Caravan in NZ, which was becoming the norm with AirNZ pullout of the regional routes. If CASA had anything to do with it, the operators of the replacement services would be stuck with using Apaches etc. instead. .... wait - they already are planing on doing just that
Guest Maj Millard Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 True, I thought I read 400m in the initial report before they updated it, it mostly was based on witness reports though, they have gone to a lot of trouble to update since then. It didn't say it was a Cessna. They are a turbine, not likely to have an engine failure, especially a "putt, and conk out" one! although this one says it went off with a BANG! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11383120 Although Turbines have less failures than say your standard piston engine, failurers are certain possible and should be planned for. There have been a few spectacular failures with PT6 powered aircraft recently throughout the world. Like any machine maintenance and the quality of that maintenance is critical.
facthunter Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 The PT-6 set new standards for turboprop reliability when it first came on the scene. Obviously as time passes they age but people also become complacent I feel and don't service them as much as might be needed.. They are many times more reliable than pistons on average. It was stated they approached reliability figures for airframe and single engines ships like Caravans and Pilatus were widely used. Any engine can fail. Having another one is one answer, but assymetric flying is critical with handling. Nev
pylon500 Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 One see's a lot of PT-6's doing the vertical descent thing, and usually getting away with it. I, and probably ozzie are aware that some Garrets don't take kindly to sort this treatment, maybe there is a possible problem with the PT-6 under these conditions?
Guest Maj Millard Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 Well even though its a pressureized oil system you still have to wonder where the oil actually is in the reservoir in an extended vertical descent.
Guest ozzie Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 As long as you do not under drive them ( keep load on the prop) and keep T5 in the green so it don't snuff out the flame and no neg G so the oil press stays positive they can be run in any attitude all day long. Garrets weak spot is their gear box. Seems P&Ws halo has slipped a bit over the last couple years with the PT6 but there are a hell of a lot flying now. Along with the King Airs Twin Otters Caravans Porters there are now the PC12 and Kodiak on the market and the number grows every day. Maybe that affects the production and the law of averages. Other than the pilot driving NMV up a drain pipe the only other problem we have had with our 'van was the FCU trying to snuff out at 4 grand when it went out of trim. There was also the air ambo PC12 flaming out at not over Perth while back. Still rather fly behind a turbine than a piston engine any day.
Guest Maj Millard Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 The advantage with turbine power is it is rotary shaft horse power with nothing stopping and starting in the cycle like a piston. This rotary power make for smooth powerfull generally reliable horsepower. Just have to keep the fires lit and things rotating as designed.
jetboy Posted January 9, 2015 Posted January 9, 2015 As long as you do not under drive them ( keep load on the prop) and keep T5 in the green so it don't snuff out the flame and no neg G so the oil press stays positive they can be run in any attitude all day long. Garrets weak spot is their gear box. Seems P&Ws halo has slipped a bit over the last couple years with the PT6 but there are a hell of a lot flying now. Along with the King Airs Twin Otters Caravans Porters there are now the PC12 and Kodiak on the market and the number grows every day. Maybe that affects the production and the law of averages.Other than the pilot driving NMV up a drain pipe the only other problem we have had with our 'van was the FCU trying to snuff out at 4 grand when it went out of trim. There was also the air ambo PC12 flaming out at not over Perth while back. Still rather fly behind a turbine than a piston engine any day. This is from a topdresser version. other than messing up the toggle switches if the flame stops there is not much to be done. (I dont fly them, so wont speculate on the controls - I think there is a manual FCU override power control) TV1 report last night talked about 'a loud bang, engine slowing down, lots of sparks up front and prop stopped' They decided it was 'quieter than normal so time to go' Although the footage of the engine coming out of the water had the blades twisted back and round a fair bit Spose we will wait the 18 mnths for the report
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now