Backcountry Pilot

[hotrod180 offline]

Saw the story on the TV news about the floatplane crash on the Willamette River,south of Portland Oregon. Evidently one spectator saw a wing come off the Taylorcraft, in the middle of a turn shortly after takeoff. Sounds kind of unlikely, but I suspect things happened quickly enough so that maybe people aren't too sure just what they saw. Pilot was a long-time floatplane pilot who operated a seaplane base nearby. Bum deal, however it happened.
www.komotv.com/news/local/8784292.html

Eric

[timinalaska offline]

You probably already know how the floatplane crash happened (with the wing falling off in normal flight), and from the NTSB, the probably cause reads exactly:

"The corrosion, fatigue fracture, and subsequent separation of the left wing lift strut attachment fitting. Also causal was the inadequate maintenance and annual inspection by the owner/pilot/mechanic."

I just can't believe how freaky of an occurence that is. I guess with a plane from 1941, extra precaution and going over should be done in maintenance.

Tim

Saw the story on the TV news about the floatplane crash on the Willamette River,south of Portland Oregon. Evidently one spectator saw a wing come off the Taylorcraft, in the middle of a turn shortly after takeoff. Sounds kind of unlikely, but I suspect things happened quickly enough so that maybe people aren't too sure just what they saw. Pilot was a long-time floatplane pilot who operated a seaplane base nearby. Bum deal, however it happened.
www.komotv.com/news/local/8784292.html

Eric

[glaciercub offline]

So very sorry to hear about Dave, he was a great guy and a real
hero for all seaplane pilots....... I question that his wing fell off?
I should guess it hit water first? Who knows....

Prayers to his family and those of his student.

[hardtailjohn offline]

The fitting seperated inflight...it was severly corroded, and pulled out of the lower longeron. This corrosion didn't just appear overnight....




Sad deal, no matter how you look at it.
John

[Zzz]

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1371