View Full Version : Seafire SX366 belly landed in France yesterday
NutLoose
3rd Jul 2011, 10:14
Probably should be elsewhere, but we did cover the B17 accident,
A report in this morning from Ben Gilbert that SX336 made a wheels up landing at Bondues near Lille, France, yesteday 2nd July. http://forum.keypublishing.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
Pilot is unhurt. Damage minimal and about as light as it can get in these circumstances.
Mark
Images here:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaantoi...7627100683798/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaantoine/sets/72157627100683798/)
Looks like damage could be minimal
From
Seafire SX336 - Belly landed in France - crew unhurt - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums (http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=110213)
Wander00
3rd Jul 2011, 11:18
Hope the aeroplane gets repaired - but much more pleased that the pilot is OK
AGS Man
3rd Jul 2011, 12:14
I wouldn't say the damage was minimal. Prop was turning so thats a big engine rebuild if not a replacement. New rad & oil cooler, prop, flaps, cowlings etc etc, not much change out of quarter of a mil at a guess. Just glad the Pilots ok.
Nicely done Anna. Could have been much worse.
Kitbag
3rd Jul 2011, 21:28
I expected to see bent prop blades, but they appear to have sheared off at the cuffs, were Seafires meant to be flown with blades like this in the event of barrier arrest?
Airborne Aircrew
3rd Jul 2011, 22:17
Silly question I'm sure... But I'll go ahead and ask anyway...
Pilots practice for engine off landings so it's not something totally alien to them. Pilots "know" how to wheels up lad their aircraft, don't they?
So why, with a vintage aircraft, wouldn't the pilot have shut the engine down on approach to save the engine...
Yes, I know, there's a lot of things to consider... Couldn't a vintage engine have been one of them?
Linedog
3rd Jul 2011, 22:35
I think that life would have been more important in this instance. Engine off could have resulted in a stalled landing. Could've gone in nose first. I'm sure others are more qualified to comment.
Rakshasa
4th Jul 2011, 07:20
Kitbag, most airworthy rebuilds fly with reproduction wooden DeHavilland/Rotol blades, (made in Germany, no less!) as alot of the original wood or duralumin ones are now life expired, (or have had high velocity encounters with terra firma!) I don't believe any company today manufactures duralumin reproductions.
stiknruda
4th Jul 2011, 07:44
That Seafire throws a 4 bladed prop, so even if the delightful Ms Walker had shut it down at least one blade but prob two would have been damaged.
The a/c has a gearbox ISTR - so would that not have allowed the props to rotate?
Stik
FirstOfficer
4th Jul 2011, 20:27
Ms. AW is a very skillful pilot and knowledgeable, who is also my PPL instructor, very sad to hear the news, but happy she is OK and not hurt. She very strong and in no time will be up in the air doing her loops. :)
H Peacock
10th Jul 2011, 20:04
Any more details on this incident? I do hope the lack of gear was a fault with the aircraft!
Pictures seem to show it landed quite firmly (stalled?) rather than being flown on. It probably makes sense to keep the engine running and fly it on in an attempt to minimise any damage.
Vick Van Guard
10th Jul 2011, 20:39
Kitbag, most airworthy rebuilds fly with reproduction wooden DeHavilland/Rotol blades, (made in Germany, no less!) as alot of the original wood or duralumin ones are now life expired, (or have had high velocity encounters with terra firma!) I don't believe any company today manufactures duralumin reproductions.
Agreed. However the propellor fitted to SX366 post restoration was an overhauled original . Not unless they have a spare one floating around, I think it will be a long time before we see it in the air again.