"We need to work on those cross-wind landings, Hoskins!"

[India Four Two]

February 2009

The Douglas DC-3C Basler turbo-conversion aircraft was operated by the Colombian National Police. It was positioned from its base in Bogotá (BOG) to Medellín (EOH). At Medellín the airplane was to pick up 27 policemen of the Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD), the anti-riot squad to Quibdó (UIB).

An explosion occurred as the policemen were boarding the plane. The fuselage ruptured and the airplane broke in two.
Media reports suggest the explosion was caused by the inadvertent detonation of one or more gas grenades used by ESMAD.

Remarkably there were no fatalities.

https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=20090218-1

[Asturias56]

Bit of duct tape and it'll be flying again in no time

[Procrastinus]

The engineers say it will be ready this afternoon.

[DHfan]

As it's a DC-3, that wouldn't actually surprise me.

[Jhieminga]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

Bit of duct tape and it'll be flying again in no time

Let's be realistic here. It's not as if you can fix EVERYTHING on a DC-3 with duct tape!

A bit of baling wire and some scraps of wood are occasionally needed as well.

[pax britanica]

Dont DC3s actually predate duct tape and speed tape so it really is back to being fixed with baling wire and wood

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by pax britanica

Dont DC3s actually predate duct tape and speed tape so it really is back to being fixed with baling wire and wood

In the Air Cadets, if we ever 'broke' a Sedbergh, we used to fix it with locking wire and masking tape and maybe a dab of dope..

[VictorGolf]

As it's a Basler and probably worth something, perhaps a fuselage transplant might be on the cards

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by VictorGolf

As it's a Basler and probably worth something, perhaps a fuselage transplant might be on the cards

The engines were indeed re-used in the rebuild of this Basler:



Credit: Don Wray on the link above.

[VictorGolf]

Thanks David. You can't keep a good DC-3 down for long.

[stevef]

Originally Posted by Jhieminga

Let's be realistic here. It's not as if you can fix EVERYTHING on a DC-3 with duct tape!
A bit of baling wire and some scraps of wood are occasionally needed as well.

Back in the '60s or early '70s a Dakota had its belly (skin, frames, stringers and floor beams) ripped open in some kind of bomb incident on the ground. (Aden, possibly). It was shored up with Dexion by engineers for a ferry flight to a repair facility. Saw the picture in an old Flight Magazine.
Tough machines, I spent many happy years working on them.

[Asturias56]

And you can just cut holes in a DC-3/C-47 without worrying too much about all sorts of stress calculations.

[Jhieminga]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

The engines were indeed re-used in the rebuild of this Basler:

I may be wrong but looking at the photo at the start of this thread, there are several bits that might be suitable for re-use. The tail section, outboard wing panels and undercarriage for one. Perhaps the nose as well, depending on the extent of the damage the centre section perhaps?

[blue up]

Not the seat covers, though.

Amazing that they could survive Flak and even, in at least one case, an airborne ramming by a Zero, and yet one percussion grenade rips it open. Bet that was a quick Evac (People, not bowels)

[meleagertoo]

Methinks that was a tad more than a percussion grenade.

[Stationair8]

Best not put anything down on the Maintenance Release either, just leave a yellow sticky note on the engineers desk, for them to read first thing tomorrow morning.

[oldpax]

Fuselage

I know where theirs a C-46 fuselage near to me if that would be off use?!!

[India Four Two]

A Basler Commando. Now there’s something to think about!

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by blue up

Not the seat covers, though.

Is that 'seat covers' as in CB slang?