RFS air tanker feared crashed in NSW

[Thruster88]

On 29/01/2020 at 10:50 AM, Thruster88 said:

The video and impact scar which is very narrow scaled from the nearby fire truck suggest the aircraft had rolled near vertical. Aerodynamic stall due turbulence perhaps.  

 

 

Flying into wind and experiencing a rapid reduction in head wind due to gusting is no different than flying down wind and experiencing a rapid increase in tail wind due to gusting. Gusting can also be vertical resulting in an instant increase or decrease in angle of attack.  It matters not which way you fly.

 

The down wind myth will live on. 

[Flying Binghi]

“…The second recommendation is that Coulson fit windshear detection systems to their C-130's to assist aircrew to manage their aircraft handling.

 

Whether this will happen remains to be seen (cost VS benefit), and whether the fitment of windshear detection equipment to the C-130's is of major advantage when flying fire missions at extremely low altitude in extreme weather, in mountainous terrain conditions, and in mountain wave/rotor conditions, along with poor visibility,…” 

 

Via the ATSB report: Coulson point out that in the very dry atmospheric conditions experienced at many fires the wind shear detection systems likely would not work all that well.

 

Compared to the ‘set-piece’ of an airliner on a final approach to a large runway, I’d wonder about the value of a sheer detection system in the dynamic fire bombing environment of constantly changing heading and altitude. 

 

 

 

 

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Edited August 30, 2022 by Flying Binghi

[Flying Binghi]

Via ATSB report: I see the aircraft had done 2 check run circuits over the drop zone prior to the actual drop. Prudent way to get a feel for the turbulence as well as scout out the fire. The check runs almost cover the same actual ground track each time.

 

On the drop run the aircraft finished up on a track further south of the check runs. This put the aircraft in an area that they had not previously flown relative to the terrain induced turbulence.

 

My thoughts are the wind effect from the little valley upwind of the crash site, and the wind effects from the little hill the aircraft crashed on, would have combined to create a little mini jet stream (Flume) of wind creating the increasing tail wind shear which caused the aircraft stall. On a clear day the pilots would have noted the wind shear ‘possibility's’ from the valley, though in the smoke it would not have been so obvious.

 

 

 

 

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[Garfly]