Plane sailing ?

[Frogmogman]

I thought some of you might be tickled by this photo. Last month the lifeboat at Belle Ile was called out to rescue a light aircraft which had had to ditch.

 

[Stemar]

Probably cheaper for the owner to let it sink. I can't see an airframe that's been immersed in seawater getting an airworthiness certificate - not to mention all the electrics and the engine. Presumably the occupants were OK, as there doesn't seem to be a lot of damage, so that's a bonus.

 

[capnsensible]

 

[jamie N]

I was involved in the recovery of an S61N off of Aberdeen in 1983.
The aircraft had ditched and everyone got off, safely stepping into the liferafts, and were rescued without incident.
A tug came by and lassooed the tail, and began towing the quite intact and dry helicopter back to the beach at about 3-4kts, when someone had a bright idea. They'd be much quicker if they dragged the aircraft over the roller at the stern of the ship, and got it onboard. Of course the tail was pulled off and the aircraft sank.
About 3 days later the DSV Aquamarine came along, with my ROV onboard to locate and recover it. It took a few hours to find it, but we did. Anyway, I'm flying the ROV around the aircraft, being directed by the BA Snr Engineer, apparently revered within the industry, who was telling me, a callow 20 something year old, the "S61N was the safest aircraft in the World".
"Why's my ROV looking at your helicopter then?" I asked.
The guy didn't say anything, but just stood up and left!
Job done.....

 

[RivalRedwing]

Probably cheaper for the owner to let it sink. I can't see an airframe that's been immersed in seawater getting an airworthiness certificate - not to mention all the electrics and the engine. Presumably the occupants were OK, as there doesn't seem to be a lot of damage, so that's a bonus.

Perhaps they feel the need to take their litter home

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I was involved in the recovery of an S61N off of Aberdeen in 1983.
The aircraft had ditched and everyone got off, safely stepping into the liferafts, and were rescued without incident.
A tug came by and lassooed the tail, and began towing the quite intact and dry helicopter back to the beach at about 3-4kts, when someone had a bright idea. They'd be much quicker if they dragged the aircraft over the roller at the stern of the ship, and got it onboard. Of course the tail was pulled off and the aircraft sank.
About 3 days later the DSV Aquamarine came along, with my ROV onboard to locate and recover it. It took a few hours to find it, but we did. Anyway, I'm flying the ROV around the aircraft, being directed by the BA Snr Engineer, apparently revered within the industry, who was telling me, a callow 20 something year old, the "S61N was the safest aircraft in the World".
"Why's my ROV looking at your helicopter then?" I asked.
The guy didn't say anything, but just stood up and left!
Job done.....

Perhaps the operative word in what the Senior Engineer said is "WAS"

 

[Frogmogman]

Probably cheaper for the owner to let it sink. I can't see an airframe that's been immersed in seawater getting an airworthiness certificate - not to mention all the electrics and the engine. Presumably the occupants were OK, as there doesn't seem to be a lot of damage, so that's a bonus.

I don’t know. I think it’s a microlight, so maybe substantially composite ?

No doubt, someone will be along in a minute to tell me I don’t know WTF I’m talking about.

 

[wonkywinch]

The aircraft was a Dallach D4 Fascination, a Czech built fully composite ultra light.

Incident Dallach D4 Fascination D-MFAV,

UL - JIH homepage - s námi Vám narostou křídla

If the engine was running when the plane contacted the water then an strip down inspection/ rebuild will be needed to check shock loading.

 

[Tomahawk]

I wonder what antifoul they chose?

 

[Frogmogman]

The aircraft was a Dallach D4 Fascination, a Czech built fully composite ultra light.

Incident Dallach D4 Fascination D-MFAV,

UL - JIH homepage - s námi Vám narostou křídla

If the engine was running when the plane contacted the water then an strip down inspection/ rebuild will be needed to check shock loading.

Thanks Wonky. The SNSM’s post says that the forced landing was due to engine failure, so I guess it probably wasn’t running when it came down.

 

[Frogmogman]

I wonder what antifoul they chose?

….or even more controversially, what anchor works best for a microlight.

 

[wonkywinch]

Thanks Wonky. The SNSM’s post says that the forced landing was due to engine failure, so I guess it probably wasn’t running when it came down.

Hopefully as the pilot reduced speed for the ditching, the prop stalled and further protected the engine as a windmilling prop could still damage the engine.

For an impressive light aircraft engine failure video, this one is worth a look ..

 

[colind3782]

Hopefully as the pilot reduced speed for the ditching, the prop stalled and further protected the engine as a windmilling prop could still damage the engine.

For an impressive light aircraft engine failure video, this one is worth a look ..

Very cool landing and that has to be the worst aircraft engine destruction I've seen. I wonder if he was a glider pilot?

 

[Stemar]

A really cool customer. I want someone like him at the controls when the smelly stuff hits the fan. (Please God, it never does!)