Canadian Forces Hercules Fire

[squib66]

Flight report on the cause of a 2012 accident, which fortuitously occurred just as the aircraft did a touch and go on a long runway

a “jet-like flame” shot across the cargo ramp floor. That flame erupted into a fireball as the aircraft’s loadmaster was reaching for a fire extinguisher to put it out. The Hercules had just become airborne (10ft) when the flight crew was altered and the pilot immediately brought the aircraft back down on the 10,000ft (3km) runway. The crew escaped with just one minor injury and fire crews responded within three minutes, but the rear of the aircraft was so badly damaged that it was deemed too expensive to repair.

The investigation determined that a series of deficiencies in the modification and its approval process, as well as its installation and in-service maintenance practices were directly causal to the fire

Is it time for the Canadian Forces to do a Haddon-Cave?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/rcaf-c-130h-fire-linked-to-faulty-hydraulic-modifica-424029/

https://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getasset.aspx?itemid=66588

[ancientaviator62]

Squib66,
thank you for the link. They were very lucky it happened when it did.
It may not be common knowledge that the insulation blanket (not even Lockheed call it soundproofing !) gives off phosgene and other lethal gases when subject to very high temperatures. This was a factor in the fatal Belgian AF Hercules incident at Eindhoven.

[Never Fretter]

Good analysis here: C-130 Fireball Due to Modification Error (http://aerossurance.com/safety-management/c-130-fireball-mod-error/)

A botched modification program unnecessarily changed the original design for a hydraulic system modification when a drawing was misread. A longer hydraulic hose was necessary after that change but an inappropriate design process short-cut meant the shorter hose remained listed as an alternative. The shorter hose was fitted to the modified fleet and resulted in chaffed electrical wiring and a fire that damaged an aircraft beyond economic repair over ten years later.

The fire was initially mis-diagnosed as an oxygen fire and flying resumed after checks of ox pipes before a second pause.

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/assets/AIRFORCE_Internet/images/flight-safety/investigation/me/cc130342-21feb12-fig4-en.jpg


http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/assets/AIRFORCE_Internet/images/flight-safety/investigation/me/cc130342-21feb12-fig8-en.jpg

[NutLoose]

A few in line crimps and a dormer window and the jobs a good 'un, I cannot understand the mentality of not repairing it ;)

[Chugalug2]

"The Hercules had just become airborne (10ft) when the flight crew was altered and the pilot immediately brought the aircraft back down on the 10,000ft (3km) runway"

Helluva time to perform a crew change, but well done the (new) pilot! :ok:

[squib66]

Thanks NF for liking to such a good summary.

Chug, too much to hope Flight proof read their story!

Surely this would have been an XV230 style catastrophe if it had happened at altitude.

[Never Fretter]

It certainly would have depressurised. Once the oxygen supply subsided would the fire have progressed to the fuel tank?