View Full Version : Russian Su-30SM fighter plane crashes into Mediterranean Sea off Syrian coast
Lyneham Lad
3rd May 2018, 14:18
A touch surprised that this has not already been posted.
From Aviation Analysis (http://www.aviationanalysis.net/2018/05/russian-fighter-plane-crashes-into-sea.html):-
A Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet has crashed in to the Mediterranean sea, off the coast of Jableh city in Latakia, Syria, on Thursday morning.
The two pilots onboard the twin seat fighter died in the accident.
The aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the Russian Khmeimim Air Base, also Hmeimim Air Base, located south-east of the city of Latakia in Hmeimim, Syria.
Russian Defense Ministry cited possible bird strike for the accident citing preliminary investigation.
Bird strike but no ejections?
RIP for the two crew & condolences to families.
Buster15
3rd May 2018, 14:34
A touch surprised that this has not already been posted.
From Aviation Analysis (http://www.aviationanalysis.net/2018/05/russian-fighter-plane-crashes-into-sea.html):-
Bird strike but no ejections?
RIP for the two crew & condolences to families.
A birdstrike ought not to hazard a twin engine aircraft. Anyway we shall await the investigation assuming we hear the truth....
Can hardly believe that a bird could be the reason. Especially for a twin-engine fighter. Since they (the crew) did not attempt to eject, it looks like they found the situation not so critical and were sure they would overcome. But being at a low altitude they finally did not manage. But it's just a feeling.
Media say that the sea depth is less than 20 m there and some boats are already working on taking the fuselage up. No doubt the reason will be clarified soon.
dead_pan
3rd May 2018, 15:57
Maybe an ejection was attempted but was unsuccessful e.g. due to unfavorable geometry? All speculation at present
Treble one
3rd May 2018, 16:03
Can birds still get through canopies these days?
Some of the birds in the area including the end of the migration would include Vultures and various Eagles. I have seen RAF Transport aircraft circling Akr because of flocks of Pelicans on finals.
Pontius Navigator
3rd May 2018, 18:12
Two engines do not guarantee surviving a bird strike. The A320 in the Hudson, the E3 in Elmdorf, the Nimrod at Kinloss. As mentionedmentioned, storks and geese are not your typical frozen chicken, especially if a flock hits you.
JagRigger
3rd May 2018, 18:25
Two engines do not guarantee surviving a bird strike. The A320 in the Hudson, the E3 in Elmdorf, the Nimrod at Kinloss. As mentionedmentioned, storks and geese are not your typical frozen chicken, especially if a flock hits you.
The Tornado at Abingdon
A birdstrike ought not to hazard a twin engine aircraft. Tell that to Sully Sullenberger and Airbus.
Maybe an ejection was attempted but was unsuccessful e.g. due to unfavorable geometry? Seems unlikely. The K-36D-3 series ejection seat in the Su-30 is arguably the finest in the world and has an amazing performance envelope.
The bird migrations through the region are tremendous and closely monitored by the Israelis. The Russians perhaps were caught by surprise.
http://www.groms.de/groms/JPGs/Cc_5km.jpg
Buster15
3rd May 2018, 19:23
The Tornado at Abingdon
Good point. That was during take off when the jet ingested (from memory) hundreds of birds into both intakes causing both engines to surge and produce insufficient power to gain height.
My previous comment related to in flight birdstrike.
Pontius Navigator
3rd May 2018, 19:49
Buster, in fact all the ones cited so far occurred in the departure phase, including the Su30, where we could expect the engines to be at full power hence full suck.
I would imagine the wrong scenario with a canopy strike as well as engine ingestion. Pure speculation, but if you suffered a canopy strike would you be able to recognise catastrophic engine failure at the same time? Could the catastrophe be such as to cause brain stall that inhibits the eject response?
just another jocky
3rd May 2018, 20:04
I was #2 in a Tornado formation when my leader flew through a flock of birds. Declared a Mayday and I led him to Leeming where we both landed.
23 individual strikes, both engines had ingested birds. They were very lucky.
Easy Street
3rd May 2018, 21:36
The Tornado loss in Holbeach Range on 24 October 2006 was due to birdstrike. Guess that earlier theory about two engines doesn't account for flocks of large birds!
Can hardly believe that a bird could be the reason F-111C A8-133 Crashed, 29/09/77 near Evans Head NSW (6 Sqn) after a bird flew through the windscreen at low level during bombing pass. Crew module separation activated at approximately 520 kts whilst aircraft descending and outside survival envelope. RAAF Ejection number 50.
Crew of SQNLDR John Holt (pilot) and FLTLT A.P. "Phil" Noordink (pilot - undergoing conversion) killed.
BBadanov
4th May 2018, 01:34
F-111C A8-133 Crashed, 29/09/77 near Evans Head NSW (6 Sqn) after a bird flew through the windscreen at low level during bombing pass. Crew module separation activated at approximately 520 kts whilst aircraft descending and outside survival envelope. RAAF Ejection number 50. Crew of SQNLDR John Holt (pilot) and FLTLT A.P. "Phil" Noordink (pilot - undergoing conversion) killed.
That was three big birds - pelicans I think. Aircraft was downwind in the range pattern, 480K at 2000 ft.
If a rogue turbine blade can take out all three hydraulic systems on a DC10 then a single bird can take out a twin engine aircraft.
They could have gotten unlucky with an uncontainable engine failure and high engergy parts shedding.
And being overly pedantic for a moment.....the term ..’bird hit’ does not exclude multiple birds.