View Full Version : A Fedex plane tipping backwards
I was wandering if anybody had any info on a Fedex plane that tipped up off of its nose gear because of it being loaded to far aft of its CG. I believe this incident occured a few years ago at LAX airport. I would greatly appreciate any info or knowledge on this wierd occurence.
Thanks,
--Wes
Speed Racer
28th Mar 2001, 14:03
I've seen this happen before too.. www.airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net) has some pics of quite a few 747's in more than the upright position. Happens when they misconfigure the weight distribution, cant say it'd be too good on the planes! I love the pics with the guys standing around lookin like their thinking "oh crud" ..
aerostude
28th Mar 2001, 14:37
This also happened to RAF VC10 at Brize last year I think. Some techy got the wrong info given regarding the fuel loading. Apparently the tanks in the tail were full and they didn't realise. - They started to drain the forward fuel tanks and hey presto you have yourself a very spectacular see-saw and one hell of a write off.
[This message has been edited by aerostude (edited 28 March 2001).]
PiperChauffeur
28th Mar 2001, 22:52
It has happened several times to FedEx. With the ex-flying tigers 747, their own dc10, 727 and Airbus (dont know if it was 300 or 310). I think the record lies with the groundcrew in Anchorage: they have tipped several.
Saw it once, myself. A 727 (NB in EKCH) loaded from the rear lifted the nosewheel 10'' of the ground, but was stopped by the rear stairs. The fwd door got stuck against the ceiling of the jetty - rather messy.
PC
PiperChauffeur
28th Mar 2001, 23:38
http://www.aviationpics.de/ramp/ramp.htm
dingducky
29th Mar 2001, 02:07
http://www.aviationpics.de/ramp/rearing_up1.jpg
http://www.aviationpics.de/ramp/rearing_up2.jpg
http://www.aviationpics.de/ramp/fedex2.jpg
[This message has been edited by dingducky (edited 28 March 2001).]
Unwell_Raptor
29th Mar 2001, 03:35
On an entirely different scale, something similar happened when four of us were climbing into a fully fuelled AA5B, planning to go Elstree-Le Touquet, a long time ago.
There was an embarrassing tinny clang that must have been audible 200 yards away.
Big'un or little'un, it's red face time for P1 (who wasn't me!)
Skunkworks
30th Mar 2001, 02:32
Is that an aft CG, or are you just happy to see me...
Lurk R
30th Mar 2001, 06:03
Maybe they were all trying to impersonate Thunderbird 2 !!! :)