Too Many Gs
From a spotter:
The video "Too Many Gs" in the Airshows directory
struck a memory chord with me (no mean feat--I've currently got two active
brain cells, and they're arguing over which one gets to take early
retirement).
The plane is a Partenavia P68C. The crash
was during an airshow in Plainview, TX. The pilot was a sales rep giving a
aerial demonstration that included high-G maneuvers in a plane not designed
for them. I remember this from an "After the Fall" column in FLYING some
twenty years back.
The NTSB summary is: NTSB Identification:
FTW83FA424. The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 21677. 14 CFR
Part 91: General Aviation Accident occurred Sunday, September 11, 1983 in
PLAINVIEW, TX Aircraft:
PARTENAVIA P68C, registration: N29561 Injuries: 1
Fatal.
THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A HIGH SPEED PASS OVER
THE RWY AT ABOUT 250 FT AGL. THE PILOT THEN BEGAN A RAPID PULL-UP &
BOTH WINGS SEPARATED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE ENG NACELLES.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SEQUENCE FROM A VIDEOTAPE
REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE WING SEPARATIONS WAS
220 KTS. VNE FOR THE AIRCRAFT IS 193 KTS. IT WAS CALCULATED THAT, AT
220 KTS & AN 8 DEG NOSE-UP PITCH, THE 'G' LOAD AT THE TIME OF THE WING
SEPARATIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN 8.3 G'S.
The National Transportation Safety Board
determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION IMPROPER: PILOT IN
COMMAND
OVERCONFIDENCE IN AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY. PILOT
IN COMMAND
AIRSPEED..EXCEEDED: PILOT IN COMMAND
WING OVERLOAD. DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
EXCEEDED: PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors WING FAILURE, TOTAL WING
SEPARATION.
The really tragic thing about the video is the
woman screaming in the background over the PA. It is the pilot's wife, who
also served as narrator during the routine. |