Stallion 38

[Continental-520]

From the West Australian.

Emergency landing for plane at Learmonth

30th December 2008, 10:00 WST




A RAAF cargo plane was forced to conduct an emergency landing at Exmouth’s Learmonth Airport after a fuel leak onboard the aircraft.

Emergency service crews, including firefighters, St John Ambulance officers and police, were on standby as the plane approached.

The pilot reported the problem about 9.30am and landed about 10.15am.

The plane was a C-17 Hercules that was carrying 70 passengers. Equipment onboard the plane started leaking fuel, causing vapours to fill the cockpit, about 50 minutes into the flight.

WA Police said the pilot did not make a mayday call and the situation was not regarded as life threatening.

An RAAF spokesman said the landing was a precautionary measure. He said the plane landed safely and nobody was injured.

The plane has since been repaired and is expected to continue on its journey to South Australia today.

--------------------------------end of article------------------------------

Heard the distress calls on ML CEN today, descended initially to 10,000ft, then 6,000 ft and was 250nm from LM. Coastwatch 705 was called to assist, but not entirely sure what assistance was expected/given.

520.

[P.O.M]

The plane was a C-17 Hercules

Outstanding!!...:D :}

[billyt]

Nah.. we all know it was a C130 Globemaster.

It's a bit like NZ TV1's Boeing 747-400

Air New Zealand jatropha biofuel test flight a success | TECHNOLOGY (http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/air-nz-biofuel-test-flight-success-2431806)

[illusion]

The pan was declared after the crew realised that it was Christmas time and the military does not work during this time TOT +/- 3 weeks:eek:

[Going Boeing]

So was it a C130 or a C17? :confused:

[Trojan1981]

Some one not do a tech-prep properly?:=

Now was it one-third or two thirds in the tank...?:}

[sthaussiepilot]

It was a 17 apparantly

[Louis Cypher]

Yep, it was a C17

Heard the distress calls on ML CEN today, descended initially to 10,000ft, then 6,000 ft and was 250nm from LM. Coastwatch 705 was called to assist, but not entirely sure what assistance was expected/given.

Just a 'precaution' when the situation was not totally clear, for escort/spotter/comm relay, particularly if the situation had of developed into an off airport arrival.

Easier/better to call off the 'support' if its not required, than try to organise something a tad too late!

An escort is quite a standard response if there's even a sniff of not making an airport, especially in remote areas.

[backend commander]

To confuse you even more......Coastwatch 705 was actually the AeroRescue/AMSA Dornier on a contracted Surveillance flight.

[ozbiggles]

Illusion
I'm sure the thousand plus service people who are overseas away from home and family this year, plus the other 5 thousand who have been away over the last 5 years over the 'holiday' season will enjoy you making a goose of yourself with your sad attempt at what ever is you were attempting to say.
I hope you have a wonderful xmas and happy new year with your loved ones.

[AerocatS2A]

To confuse you even more......Coastwatch 705 was actually the AeroRescue/AMSA Dornier on a contracted Surveillance flight.In which case it would have been "Customs 705" not Coastwatch.

[DutchRoll]

Most likely it was a poorly or incorrectly prepped vehicle or item of ground equipment pouring excess fuel into the cargo compartment.

Happened to me many years ago on a C130 resulting in having to do an overweight landing back at Richmond. Prep instructions said to drain the fuel tank to less than 1/4 full, not 1/4 less than full! End result: Fuel all through the cargo compartment. I was somewhat annoyed about it when I got on the ground, if I recall.

Inexperience and carelessness unfortunately (and this type of incident in particular) rear their head a little too frequently in the military IMHO.