PC12 NG Down off California

[Grogmonster]

I heard a rumor that a new PC12 went in 1100nm off the Californian coast en-route to Hilo yesterday. Apparently 2 POB. Both rescued after a night in the raft. Anyone know what actually happened?

Groggy

[Car RAMROD]

Not a rumour, it happened.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/244731

Supposedly some of the rescue video- https://youtu.be/dqDoUzZODdQ


Now for the rumour part; issue with the fuel
supply from the ferry tank.

[Sir HC]

It was headed to Australia? Any idea who owned it?

[KeyPilot]

Great video, anyone know from which USCG a/c type this was shot?

Well done all - PC12 crew for executing a survivable ditching; USCG for their typical calm professionalism; and merchant vessel crew for their tenacity in preserving life! :ok:

[Going Nowhere]

Not a rumour, it happened.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/244731

Supposedly some of the rescue video- https://youtu.be/dqDoUzZODdQ


Now for the rumour part; issue with the fuel
supply from the ferry tank.

It looks like it tried to depart a few days earlier but returned.

[Capn Bloggs]

It looks like it tried to depart a few days earlier but returned.
"Going Nowhere". How apt! :{

[Going Nowhere]

"Going Nowhere". How apt! :{
Well it went somewhere... 🤷‍♂️

[LGW Vulture]

Dion Weisler's aircraft.

[blubak]

Great video, anyone know from which USCG a/c type this was shot?

Well done all - PC12 crew for executing a survivable ditching; USCG for their typical calm professionalism; and merchant vessel crew for their tenacity in preserving life! :ok:
Unbelievable dedication & communication by both rescue parties,these guys need to be acknowledged & their efforts highlighted right across the globe.

[KeyPilot]

Unbelievable dedication & communication by both rescue parties,these guys need to be acknowledged & their efforts highlighted right across the globe.

Yes, the teamwork and indeed brotherhood between aviators and mariners is fantastic to see. Many aviators owe their lives to mariners, many mariners owe their lives to aviators. This is a heart-warming illustration of how, thanks to preparation & coolheadedness on the part of the PC-12 pilots, and the professionalism and dedication of the rescuers, an otherwise dire circumstance (ditching 1000nm from dry land) has a happy outcome.

I saw on another forum that over-flying airliners played a significant role in this great effort.

As for the loss of a $5m aeroplane - that's what insurance is for! Pilatus can build another PC-12 - they can't build another husband/father/brother/son/...

[The Banjo]

The problem arises when an aviator turns into an unwilling mariner as in this case!

[B772]

There is no guarantee insurance will payout if the fuel system was sus. I suspect the provider of the fuel system will be sued.

[atakacs]

Brand new aircraft...
​​​​​​Any idea how deep the ocean is around there (not sure where to check)? It might be difficult to get to the wreckage (if at all possible).
As others have pointed out good job by all involved!

[zac21]

There must be a preliminary accident report made by now, maybe FAA ?

[B2N2]

Why are sketchy ferry operators first on my mind?
There’s probably more to this story.

Who installed the tank and was this person qualified to do so?
Was a test flight performed to test the system.
Did they continue till it was out of fuel or did they discover the problem early and diligently worked to communicate and do a controlled ditching close to shipping routes?

Surviving a pilot induced accident is not good “airmanship”.
Thats why I’d be interested in the whole story which we’ll probably never hear.
I’m thinking that the Honolulu FSDO has jurisdiction.
As far as insurance, as underwriter I’d be interested in the above also.

Pilatus website shows 1800NM range with 4 pax and IFR reserves.
We’ll call that even with 2 crew and gear.
Thats at FL300 though.
https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-12
This time of year the winds are truly HOWLING at altitude, jetstream from West to East.
At FL300 you’d probably have a ground speed of 100kts if you pick the wrong day.
Distance to fly was give or take 2500NM.
Thats 4 hrs extra fuel required.
Did they have a Point of no Return calculated?
As in the ferry tank needs to work by this point or we’re going back?
You should start transfer as soon as there’s room in the Main tanks.
Keep them full so you keep your 1800 airmiles range.

[zac21]

Looking at Flightaware the same A/C performed a flight to Hilo on the 1/11/20, and again on the 2/11/20, but diverted from Santa Maria to Hilo ?
As B2N2 says, there is more to this one.

[Kulwin Park]

If it was brand new as mentioned above, why is it in USA?

Are USA assembling new PC12's?

[zac21]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi46YXD06TtAhVeyDgGHU3tAUoQFjADegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pilatus-aircraft.com%2Fen%2Fnews-events%2Fmedia-release%2Fpilatus-opens-new-pc-12-ng-and-pc-24-us-completions-facility-in-broomfield-colorado&usg=AOvVaw0BAoT4MasXKFMDFusrJYUt

[B2N2]

Any further info on the ditching?

[atakacs]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi46YXD06TtAhVeyDgGHU3tAUoQFjADegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pilatus-aircraft.com%2Fen%2Fnews-events%2Fmedia-release%2Fpilatus-opens-new-pc-12-ng-and-pc-24-us-completions-facility-in-broomfield-colorado&usg=AOvVaw0BAoT4MasXKFMDFusrJYUt

Bit of a thread drift but are the actually flying the "bare" aircraft in for completion ? That's about 1 ferry flight / week assuming the 55 production number they are aiming at...

Also is it really much more economical to ferry the (completed) aircraft from US to Australia vs from Europe ?

[megan]

Bit of a thread drift but are the actually flying the "bare" aircraft in for completionYes, and the FAA TCDS gives approval for the aircraft to fly the Atlantic in a "green" condition.

[atakacs]

Yes, and the FAA TCDS gives approval for the aircraft to fly the Atlantic in a "green" condition.
Interesting - between the PC12 and PC24 that's a flight every 2-3 working day. Quite an operation...

[dns]

It was headed to Australia? Any idea who owned it?

What sort of route would it have been taking to get to Oz from California?!

[Roj approved]

Santa Barbara, California -> Hilo, Hawaii 2067nm

Hilo -> Apia, Samoa - 2241nm

Apia -> Sydney, Australia - 2335nm

If the range is a problem then due to the Jetstreams, (although by now they should be well south of Australia )

Hilo -> Cassidy PLCH - 1068nm

Cassidy -> Nadi, Fiji - 1902nm

Nadi -> Sydney - 1712nm

There used to be a really good routing website, but I can’t find it anymore.

[Capt Fathom]

Great Circle Mapper (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=ksmx-phto-nstu-ybbn%0D%0Aksmx-phto-plch-nstu-nffn-nwww-ybbn&MS=wls&DU=nm)

GCMAP.com

[Roj approved]

Great Circle Mapper (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=ksmx-phto-nstu-ybbn%0D%0Aksmx-phto-plch-nstu-nffn-nwww-ybbn&MS=wls&DU=nm)

GCMAP.com

That’s the one 👍

[dns]

Is it normal to cross that amount of open water with a single engine?

[megle2]

No, ferry flights more often than not stretch the parameters. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it but plenty are

[megan]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/522x444/lsacchi_02dec88ecbbcb0b77ad6fc18bba705985956d5b5.jpg

Is it normal to cross that amount of open water with a single engineWhen GA was thriving single engine pistons were ferried all over the world, USA across the Pacific to Australia being just one route. Many a pilot made their living ferrying aircraft from factory to country of purchase, good book on the business is "Ocean Flying" by Louise Sacchi, she flew the Pacific and Atlantic over 340 times flying mainly Bonanzas and Barons.

[Capt Fathom]

Not a photo you want in your scrapbook.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/742x546/130219888_1344850819223157_8935235762622766581_n_62c63e1bafe efd682de161db0315ffdaa9785157.png

[megan]

Why not, reminder of one of lifes adventures having a great outcome.

[Kulwin Park]

The photo proves what a great outcome came from it AND how buoyant the aircraft is!
Seriously how many water landings are there with the aircraft still in perfect tact??!!

[TBM-Legend]

Santa Barbara, California -> Hilo, Hawaii 2067nm

Hilo -> Apia, Samoa - 2241nm

Apia -> Sydney, Australia - 2335nm

If the range is a problem then due to the Jetstreams, (although by now they should be well south of Australia )

Hilo -> Cassidy PLCH - 1068nm

Cassidy -> Nadi, Fiji - 1902nm

Nadi -> Sydney - 1712nm

There used to be a really good routing website, but I can’t find it anymore.


My two ferries one in 1983 in my B-25:
Stockton, Ca to HNL
HNL to Majuro, Marshall Is [over fly Johnson Is as emergency strip]
MJO to HIA [overfly Nauru as emergency strip]
HIA to BNE

In my A-26:

Santa Rosa, Ca to Hilo
Hilo to Pago Pago
Pago to NLK [due cyclone]
NLK to BNE

[Capt Fathom]

A great outcome! The pilots survived.

However, a brand new aircraft enroute to it’s new owners has ended up in the drink!
That is not a good outcome!

Ferry 101. What went wrong? With the aircraft at the bottom of the deep, we may never know!

[B2N2]

Why not, reminder of one of lifes adventures having a great outcome.



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x400/1607521705_1a102d95f1f63b619cf5db78ebf8a95394fa8d9a.jpeg

https://www.businessinsider.com/selfie-after-plane-crash-2014-1

[zac21]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjZq5OsjcLtAhUHILcAHe4aBPMQFjAAegQIAxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kathrynsreport.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fpilatu s-pc-12-accident-occurred.html&usg=AOvVaw2lmmBkA0Y_fyySWrv-1io0

[megan]

The engine did not restart and grinding sounds and a loud bang were heardWhatever went wrong it sure doesn't sound good.