Helen Clark fears for life in an Aztec
Kiwi PPRuNer
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radio said an inquiry had been launched, maybe they should find out why the 2 coppers didnt use this opportune moment to rid us of that thing, surely a rnzaf kingair was available, they have 5 of the flamin things
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I thought this story had to be a joke
The story has the wrong title. It should read.
"Party bean counters show their true feelings for PM :-"
"The Prime minister of NZ was today allowed by party and advisors to travel in a very noisy old General Aviation unpressurised piston twin."
Hate to see how they treat you if you are on the bottom of the heap.
The story has the wrong title. It should read.
"Party bean counters show their true feelings for PM :-"
"The Prime minister of NZ was today allowed by party and advisors to travel in a very noisy old General Aviation unpressurised piston twin."
Hate to see how they treat you if you are on the bottom of the heap.
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The amazing thing was, not that she was forced to fly in an aztec, but that someone with such an overenflated ego would get into the thing. This is someone who scrapped the combat wing so she could buy 757's and look important when she travels overseas. I prefer to think that the door was stuck closed and the brave policeman were trying to get it open
better luck next time. 
better luck next time.
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I just saw a news update on Ch 9. Vision of an light twin taxiing in and parking nose first in front of a hangar while the reporter comments that the ".....small jet...." had to ".......emergency land."
SMALL JET!!! OMG!!! HAHAHAHA!!! THE PIPER AZJET???
Any wonder the average GA pilot struggles to even put fuel in his/her car!!! The public are constantly fed innacurate and sensationalised crap from the press! If I did MY job the way they did theirs, I wouldn't even get a job in the first place, let alone KEEP my job, let alone stay ALIVE!!!
SMALL JET!!! OMG!!! HAHAHAHA!!! THE PIPER AZJET???
Any wonder the average GA pilot struggles to even put fuel in his/her car!!! The public are constantly fed innacurate and sensationalised crap from the press! If I did MY job the way they did theirs, I wouldn't even get a job in the first place, let alone KEEP my job, let alone stay ALIVE!!!
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Apparently the pilot had a camel's outfit on
Cheers, HH.
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On a less flippant note, one has to ask why people seem to think that doors that inadvertently open in flight is SOP for some types of GA aircraft.
You can bet that it has happened on so many occasions that pilots do not enter the defect in the maintenance release or whatever equivalent document is used by NZ operators.
If pilots reported in the maintenance release each time the door popped and under what flight conditions, then you may find that lack of proper maintenance is the cause of the problem. Engineers are perfectly capable at fixing a defective door fitting but first they need to be advised that it happened. And not just a casual remark that the damned door flew open again. But something on the official document so that a trend can be noted and rectified.
Slamming of ill fitting doors inevitably causes a door to pop in flight eventually. If therefore the door is subject to slamming on the ground to get it to lock shut, then write up the defect and get the engineers to fix it before one day some poor bastard gets hurt in flight if loss of control takes place.
Any investigation on the Aztec door incident which started this thread should look at the history of that particular aircraft and see if it has happened before. You can bet your bottom dollar it had and that either the pilots concerned failed to record the defect or simply were frightened of losing their jobs if they wrote up the defect.
You can bet that it has happened on so many occasions that pilots do not enter the defect in the maintenance release or whatever equivalent document is used by NZ operators.
If pilots reported in the maintenance release each time the door popped and under what flight conditions, then you may find that lack of proper maintenance is the cause of the problem. Engineers are perfectly capable at fixing a defective door fitting but first they need to be advised that it happened. And not just a casual remark that the damned door flew open again. But something on the official document so that a trend can be noted and rectified.
Slamming of ill fitting doors inevitably causes a door to pop in flight eventually. If therefore the door is subject to slamming on the ground to get it to lock shut, then write up the defect and get the engineers to fix it before one day some poor bastard gets hurt in flight if loss of control takes place.
Any investigation on the Aztec door incident which started this thread should look at the history of that particular aircraft and see if it has happened before. You can bet your bottom dollar it had and that either the pilots concerned failed to record the defect or simply were frightened of losing their jobs if they wrote up the defect.
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Ah well, sorry fellers but it looks like you're stuck with Comrade Helen for a little longer yet!
But one thing puzzles me. Did she make it clear in her election campaign speeches that she intended to virtually abolish the RNZAF and if so then WTF did (apparently) the majority of Kiwis vote her party in??
Would someone care to enlighten this poor soul?
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
But one thing puzzles me. Did she make it clear in her election campaign speeches that she intended to virtually abolish the RNZAF and if so then WTF did (apparently) the majority of Kiwis vote her party in??
Would someone care to enlighten this poor soul?
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
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I voted for the other guy....
but still it begs to be asked..
Head of State....
Twin engine piston
Unpressurised
No anti-ice
Single pilot IFR...
One of these things doesn't go with the other...
but still it begs to be asked..
Head of State....
Twin engine piston
Unpressurised
No anti-ice
Single pilot IFR...
One of these things doesn't go with the other...
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The Aztec would have been luxury for the Hen: remember the "industrial action" when she tried to fly out of Tulla a couple of years back?
Friend Bracks had VicPol tasked to transfer her discretely to East Sale, to depart via (IIRC) an RNZAF flight. What better "discrete" than the back of a Divvie van, for the 4 hour flog via the Princes Highway. Oh, make that 5 hours, while the crew had a Macca's stop at Traralgon
I think they took pity about then and let her out for a pit stop, but soon locked her back in before the LTV Bogans took her for one of their own
Friend Bracks had VicPol tasked to transfer her discretely to East Sale, to depart via (IIRC) an RNZAF flight. What better "discrete" than the back of a Divvie van, for the 4 hour flog via the Princes Highway. Oh, make that 5 hours, while the crew had a Macca's stop at Traralgon
I think they took pity about then and let her out for a pit stop, but soon locked her back in before the LTV Bogans took her for one of their own
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I thought it was pretty standard for the door to pop open on a Piper. It's happened to me multiple times in PA28 and PA 38's... I used to think it was something I was doing wrong. DAmn thing always seems closed and locked until you get to about 500 feet and then "thunk" and the roar of the slipstream (even at a mere 70 knots in the "climb") is enough to drive you nuts.
The two coppers should have just pushed HC into the void, that would have stoppered the gap and shut up the noise for a while. Oh, so long as her head was facing outwards, that is.
Suprised an Aztec carrying that much weight can get in to Paraparaumu. Bet it scared the tourists in the little tea rooms.
VHCU
The two coppers should have just pushed HC into the void, that would have stoppered the gap and shut up the noise for a while. Oh, so long as her head was facing outwards, that is.
Suprised an Aztec carrying that much weight can get in to Paraparaumu. Bet it scared the tourists in the little tea rooms.
VHCU
I heard and perhaps read on this forum some time ago that Aztecs have been known to experience serious controlability problems associated with a door suddenly opening in flight.
Any experienced Aztec pilots/owners care to comment?
Any experienced Aztec pilots/owners care to comment?
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Well said Menen.
Ha Ha what a joke for everyone else!
Doors opening on any aircraft are no joke. Does any pilot out there think this operator will receive more work from the department involved in booking this flight? Forget It!
Is the general publics percecption of the safety of general aviation damaged. You bet!
Can doors be complicated things with fragile mechanisms that require close attention.? Yes.
All the door opened legends on this thread, did you each ground the aircraft with an entry on the appropriate log?
Ha Ha what a joke for everyone else!
Doors opening on any aircraft are no joke. Does any pilot out there think this operator will receive more work from the department involved in booking this flight? Forget It!
Is the general publics percecption of the safety of general aviation damaged. You bet!
Can doors be complicated things with fragile mechanisms that require close attention.? Yes.
All the door opened legends on this thread, did you each ground the aircraft with an entry on the appropriate log?
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"Almost certainly, it was simply not closed and locked properly.".......or someone was playing around with it inflight!
"did you each ground the aircraft with an entry on the appropriate log? ROTFL, Spotlight.
Sure, IF it was happening on every flight, but it was usually MY (the pilot's) fault for not making sure the upper latch had properly secured.
Like Scrubbed says, "The door opens slightly into the slipstream and it gets a little louder in the cabin. Wow. Major event."
Can't understand the reason for the "MAYDAY"
Helen, Head Honcho of Hobbitsville! Good one, Scrubbed
Here's another article about the mid air near disaster - names and all - from The Press.
Helen of Hobbitsville's horrifying hour
She texted her mum and dad – "Just made emergency landing at Paraparaumu Airport. Severe turbulence, plane door flew open, bruised arm." What a Hobbit!!
From another article written about a photographer's flight with Mountain Air..
"Everything seemed fine, but there was one thing missing.....THE DOOR! I have pretty much always been up for anything, but "no door?" (http://www.travelersdigest.com/mountain_air_review.htm)
By the way, why does this wo/man use the name Miss Clark - not even Ms? What a put down for so say husband, Peter Davis....but maybe HE prefers it that way!!
"did you each ground the aircraft with an entry on the appropriate log? ROTFL, Spotlight.
Sure, IF it was happening on every flight, but it was usually MY (the pilot's) fault for not making sure the upper latch had properly secured.
Like Scrubbed says, "The door opens slightly into the slipstream and it gets a little louder in the cabin. Wow. Major event."
Can't understand the reason for the "MAYDAY"
Helen, Head Honcho of Hobbitsville! Good one, Scrubbed
Here's another article about the mid air near disaster - names and all - from The Press.
Helen of Hobbitsville's horrifying hour
She texted her mum and dad – "Just made emergency landing at Paraparaumu Airport. Severe turbulence, plane door flew open, bruised arm." What a Hobbit!!
From another article written about a photographer's flight with Mountain Air..
"Everything seemed fine, but there was one thing missing.....THE DOOR! I have pretty much always been up for anything, but "no door?" (http://www.travelersdigest.com/mountain_air_review.htm)
By the way, why does this wo/man use the name Miss Clark - not even Ms? What a put down for so say husband, Peter Davis....but maybe HE prefers it that way!!
Last edited by Eimar Moron; 13th Apr 2005 at 19:39.
Thread Starter
Yet another news article on the incident
'Prime Minister should have a dedicated aircraft'. 'Gallipoli-not as dangerous'
I'd need to take the gloves and socks off at least 3 other people as well as my own, just to count the amount of times I have had an Aztec door come open in flight. According to my former boss/engineer, 'The Door will not fully open in flight unless it has not been closed properly', and 'You can fly with the door ajar, it will not affect the controllability of the aircraft'.
Saying that, I do recall reading an article in either a Vector or Wings magazine regarding a pilot having to make an emergency landing due to the shocking door system of the Aztec's.
Maybe he had the same problem...
'Prime Minister should have a dedicated aircraft'. 'Gallipoli-not as dangerous'
I'd need to take the gloves and socks off at least 3 other people as well as my own, just to count the amount of times I have had an Aztec door come open in flight. According to my former boss/engineer, 'The Door will not fully open in flight unless it has not been closed properly', and 'You can fly with the door ajar, it will not affect the controllability of the aircraft'.
Saying that, I do recall reading an article in either a Vector or Wings magazine regarding a pilot having to make an emergency landing due to the shocking door system of the Aztec's.
Maybe he had the same problem...
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Perhaps the pilot was having some difficulty maintaining control due to the two 'gorrillas' diving for the door to keep it closed?? Frankly I don't think the pilot should be criticised one bit as I imagine your comments would be quite different if for some reason they had crashed and the pilot had said nothing.
I do find it quite amazing that a head of state has to resort to tooling around in an Aztec anyway and surely as a minimum the RNZAF should have one of their Kingairs available for the PM's travel, (whether that be Helen or anyone else!)
I do find it quite amazing that a head of state has to resort to tooling around in an Aztec anyway and surely as a minimum the RNZAF should have one of their Kingairs available for the PM's travel, (whether that be Helen or anyone else!)