View Full Version : Metro Maintenance Rumour
megle2
7th Jul 2006, 10:20
Hushed talk that a Metro undergoing maintenace at BN has been written off due to some sort of explosive cabin damage.
23 Metros In a Row
7th Jul 2006, 12:01
Yes I understand Sunshine Express might be short one Metro 23. Ouch. Also understand it was the same mob that blew it up were the ones who removed the bung from the fuel tank in the last one and forgot to put the fuel back in.
Must be a week for Metro's, also told that VH had VEH (MIII-H)written off this week after a heavier than usual landing attempt that scored a 10.
Last but not least Airtex's IAW (MIII) is stuck somewhere in the Pacific without a donk after it being struck from a great height. Der Fuehrer will not be pleased. "aghh ....... your sending me broke".
Then again, the SunnyEx M23 might have blown up because of the "dodgy" fuel probes that have been blowing Metros out of the sky for years.....
:p
lowlite
7th Jul 2006, 12:43
Certainly was sunshine metro, from what I heard it had nothing to due with the fuel tanks, one would imagine if fuel was invloved in an explosion there would be nothing left of the hanger either. Apparently the engineer involved was a very lucky man to get out of it with his life.
Mickster
7th Jul 2006, 13:25
23 Metros
Any further details on VEH?
Woomera
7th Jul 2006, 14:44
It's on the CASA CASA web site (http://sdr.casa.gov.au/sdronline/Rep...eportCD=ACBFSK).
Sunny Woomera
Oooops. Sorry........ :sad: swh has the correct link.
planemad2
7th Jul 2006, 19:23
Not with that link. :confused:
Not with that link. :confused:
From the CASA site
SWRNGN SA227DC [5300] FUSELAGE STRUCTURE (GENERAL) - AIRCRAFT EXPLOSION 510003063
Explosion in cockpit area during scheduled maintenance. Damage to aircraft. Investigation continuing. See attachments for photographs.
from
http://www.casa.gov.au/airworth/sdr/index.htm
Then look under
"Online Defect Report summaries" near the bottom of the page
Then have a look at "Aircraft - Below 5700 Kg" in the July 2006 monthly report.
planemad2
8th Jul 2006, 20:47
That link works. :ok:
Cannot see the photos though. :confused:
Icarus2001
9th Jul 2006, 04:45
Likewise, no photographs.
What could cause an "explosion" in the cockpit in one of these things?
By the way if it is an SA227DC why is it "under 5700kg", I thought they were above 5700kg?
Likewise, no photographs.
What could cause an "explosion" in the cockpit in one of these things?
By the way if it is an SA227DC why is it "under 5700kg", I thought they were above 5700kg?
Contact cleaner build-up in a confined space.
Yep, I could not understand the les than 5700 bit either, all 8DC's that I know of are around 7000Kg.
While not likely to be the reason, but I did once see a very ugly hole in the left cockpit side of a Caribou (expecting posts by Tiger any minute now)in Darwin. Made by the Crew Oxy bottle exiting under high pressure and fire.
Followed very closely by the crew.
richo
Noeyedear
10th Jul 2006, 00:19
There is a Metro III heavy in Oz that this has happened to before.
It occured around 1992/3 (approx) when the aircraft was with American Eagle or whatever they were called then.
After repair the aircraft went through a refurb with Merlin Express/Fairchild and was sold to an Oz operator. The aircraft was delivered to Oz (late 94)with the photos of the damage - big (BIG) hole under and behind co-pilot's side window. Certainly made everyone do a double-take at the time.
Cause was oxygen related as Richo has described.
Wouldn't it be interesting if it was the same airframe?:sad:
Edit the above: Clearly if its a M23 in BN, its not the same airframe! D'oh!
Kanga767
10th Jul 2006, 07:27
Metro 23s are still classified as under 5700kgs because it is on the original FAA Type Certificate (as a variant) for the either the SA26 merlin or the original SA226, I can't remember which.
K
Icarus2001
10th Jul 2006, 10:21
Metro 23s are still classified as under 5700kgs Where and by whom?
Operationally aren't they treated as above 5700kg?
Copilot side under window? That would be the location of the oxygen selector.
The Monst.
10th Jul 2006, 10:47
It says, "See attachments for photographs." HUH? Where? How? With whom? HELP!!! I wanna see the pics!!!
brame
11th Jul 2006, 00:01
Kanga767
I seem to remenber that it was certified to Special FAR 41....:cool:
Kanga767
11th Jul 2006, 02:27
Brame, I gotta admit, it was a long time ago, and I was just an office boy at the time, trawling through ADs and FARs trying to make sense of an Australian C of A...:ugh: My first response to your post was going to be that it was certified to FAR23 but I looked up it's type certificate (for old times sake:ouch: ) and there is some reference to SFAR 41. It also has a separate TCDS (A18SW) to the 226 and early 227 models(A5SW/A8SW) so again I don't remember exactly how I came to this information long ago. No doubt, knowing how CASA (CAA) works, this is some doing of theirs...
Icarus, I'm talking the querky location of the Aircraft's Australian ADs. Ergo, as referred to above, the on-line defect report is in 'under 5700kgs'
K
podbreak
17th Jul 2006, 11:36
classified under 5700kg cos theres only half of it left.
alidad
18th Jul 2006, 03:00
The Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23 is certified as a Commuter category FAR 23 Amdt 34.
If you want to know more contact Neville Probert at CASA- he is a master of the game, and runs a very informative "Large Aircraft Performance" course from time to time.
Diatryma
15th Aug 2006, 02:26
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20128306-643,00.html
Rex flies to the rescue for Sunshine Express
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
August 15, 2006
REGIONAL Express will expand its reach into Queensland after mounting a rescue mission for troubled small operator Sunshine Express.
Sunshine, which services seven regional destinations in NSW and Queensland from Brisbane, has struggled after one of its five Metro aircraft was damaged during maintenance. The airlines have been in discussions for some time but Rex fast-tracked its offer after Qantaslink said last Friday that it would start services on two key Sunshine routes. Rex has agreed to take over Sunshine for a nominal amount.
"That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Rex managing director Geoff Breust said. "Rather than see the whole thing collapse we decided to ... step up."
Rex, Australia's biggest independent regional carrier, currently operates in four states using a mix of Saab 340 and Metro aircraft.
It inherits about 40 staff and will continue to operate Sunshine as a separate brand, for now, bringing in a recently freed-up Metro from its own fleet.
But it also plans to start a Saab service in Queensland under its own brand, and hopes eventually to bring two Saabs into the Sunshine network.
"The idea is to put some Saab services in and see how that develops on the current network," Mr Breust said.
Di :eek: