air tanker down...

[Timebuilder]

"...and He will raise you up on eagles' wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand..."

-Craig Courtney

 

[avbug]

Steve had a pretty good sense of humor. You can bet that if he returns as an eagle, he'll be dropping bird wax on every car that enters the forest.

 

[Hovernut]

Video Link Updated

I just updated the crash video link on my page. It now includes another angle of the crash from an amateur video source, post crash fire and debris field, and the last interview the (hero) pilot gave prior to losing his life in the line of duty. It also mentions that the same a/c had cracks repaired a couple years earlier.

John, Longwood, FL

Avbug, thanks for the PM, I responded, but your mailbox is full. I mourn your loss.

Crash Video

 

[Av8trxx]

Wing cracks?!

Here's a prelim, with some eerily similar accidents profiled below:

17 JUN 2002 Hawkins & Powers Aviation
Lockheed C-130A N130HP near
Walker, CA, USA

Please note this information is preliminary; new information will be added on the Aviation Safety Network at
http://aviation-safety.net/index.shtml.

Date: 17 JUN 2002
Time: ca 14.45
Type: Lockheed C-130A Hercules
Operator: Hawkins & Powers Aviation
Registration: N130HP
C/n: 3146
Year built: 1956
Engines: 4 Allison T56-A
Crew: 3 fatalities / 3 on board
Passengers: 0 fatalities / 0 on board
Total: 3 fatalities / 3 on board
Location: Walker, CA (USA)
Phase: Cruise
Nature: Fire fighting
Departure airport: Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV (MEV)
Destination airport: Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV (MEV)
Remarks:

Hercules N130HP was hired to fight a 10,000-acre wildland blaze near Walker, CA. After dumping a red cloud of fire retardant, the right wing separated from the aircraft at low altitude. The plane then lost control and rolled left. During this manoeuvre separated as well and the aircraft nosedived into the ground. The whole event just took about 4 seconds and was captured on video a passer-by.

In April 1998 two one-inch cracks were found on the bottom of a wing (the service difficulty report does not state which wing), at Outer Wing Station 33, which is 33 inch (83cm) from the wing joint. These cracks were repaired.

--------------------------------------------
Sources
--------------------------------------------
AP; FAA; video at BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2051000/2051058.stm

--------------------------------------------
AIRCRAFT PROFILE LOCKHEED L-100/C-130 HERCULES
--------------------------------------------
* Last (civilian) hull-loss accident: 06 SEP 2000 T & G Aviation N116TG, at
Aubenas, France - 2 fatalities
* Last fatal accident: ibid.
* Total number of hull-losses: 39 civilian Hercules losses
* 3rd civilian Hercules loss during a fire fighting operation
Several Hercules planes have crashed following wing failures of some sort:

02 OCT 1980 - USAF C-130A - Crashed after losing part of the left wing leading edge during a low-level flight.
(http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+174&)

13 APR 1982 - USAF C-130H - The engine nr. 4 mounting failed, which caused the wing to break off.

(http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+184&)

12 MAY 1982 - USAF C-130E - Crashed after wing broke off while in formation flight.

(http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+186&)

02 APR 1986 - USAF HC-130P - Wing failure in turbulence at low altitude

(http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+203&)

23 MAY 1974 - Saturn L-100 - the left wing separated from the aircraft at about outer wing station 162

(http://aviation-safety.net/database/1974/740523-1.htm)

27 OCT 1974- Alaska Int. L-100 - In-flight failure of right wing near Station 183 (near the no.3 engine) in moderate turbulence.

(http://aviation-safety.net/database/1974/741027-0.htm)

13 AUG 1994 - Hemet C-130A - Right wing (including no.3 and no.4 engine) failed in-flight following a fuel tank explosion.

(http://aviation-safety.net/database/1994/940813-1.htm)



--------------------------------------------
OPERATOR PROFILE HAWKINS & POWERS AVIATION
--------------------------------------------
Company specializing a.o. in aerial firefighting from Greybull, WY
* website: http://www.hawkinsandpowers.com/
* Founded: 1969
* 3rd fatal Hawkins & Powers hull-loss accident

 

[avbug]

The problem that occured affected primarily the C-130A model, type II, of which only a handfull still exist.

As for the SDR about the cracked wings...I was in that airplane when they cracked, and did the repairs for which the SDR was written. The SDR doesn't do it justice, either. The crack was completely through the wing, and the wing has no internal structure, no spar...only a shear web. It's held together primarily by the thickness of the wingskin, which also forms each tank. If that skin cracks, the wing goes, period.

The similiar incident not described was Tanker 82, which crashed in 1994, with Captain Bob Buc at the controls. The circumstances are very similiar, and any of us that flew these airplanes knows exactly what happened. Beyond that, I'll make no comments on the events themselves until the "official" investigation does it's dance.

The airplanes will get another NDI inspection, and be sent back to the fire in a few days or weeks...just like always.

 

[Timebuilder]

Avbug, you mentioned the type II. What changes were made in the succeeding models? Did they add a wing spar?

I had no idea that there were that many hercules losses. I'm kind of stunned, really.

Then again, I just got up and I've had no coffee.

 

[ifly4food]

Avbug,
My condolences to you for the loss of your friends, and also to the families of these aviators if they are viewing.

Thanks for bringing us up to speed on this incident. I was going to ask if you knew about it, but someone beat me to it.

I have been critical of you in the past, but perhaps it's just due to my not understanding your world. I apologize for that. Clearly you "working" pilots are more the real pilots than we airline types are. Godspeed to you and all fire pilots. Thanks for doing what you do.
If4f

 

[hiflt]

Came across this and thought it might suit, although avbug's blue skies, black death post was more succinct.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
William Butler Yeats

Condolences to the families.