QF61 in Darwin
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Mrs Claret tells me that she heard a news item on ABC radio this afternoon suggesting that at least one of the errant 767 doors may have been found.
Click here for the article from the ABC web site. In case the link doesn't work, read on .....
From http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia...9jul2002-7.htm
Click here for the article from the ABC web site. In case the link doesn't work, read on .....
Mystery of missing Qantas 767 door may be solved
The search for a door that fell off a passenger plane over Darwin's rural area last year could be over.
Authorities are looking into a claim the door has been found.
The Qantas 767 was travelling from Cairns to Darwin last November when the main landing gear door from the right hand side of the plane fell off.
No one was injured but the incident did prompt an engineering change by manufacturer Boeing.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it received a call from someone today who had recovered an object from beneath the flight path that fits the description of the door.
The part will be recovered and sent to the bureau in Canberra, where it will determine if it is the missing door.
The search for a door that fell off a passenger plane over Darwin's rural area last year could be over.
Authorities are looking into a claim the door has been found.
The Qantas 767 was travelling from Cairns to Darwin last November when the main landing gear door from the right hand side of the plane fell off.
No one was injured but the incident did prompt an engineering change by manufacturer Boeing.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it received a call from someone today who had recovered an object from beneath the flight path that fits the description of the door.
The part will be recovered and sent to the bureau in Canberra, where it will determine if it is the missing door.
Nunc est bibendum
Time goes by in a hurry!
If someone had asked me I would have sworn that this one happened in about March or April this year. I can not believe that it was that long ago! 
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You want to have your insurance paid up if you live near the Darwin airport (or at least strengthen your roof trusses!)
Only a couple of years ago (during Pitch Black 2000 I think it was), our company launched an inert AIM 7 off an F/A-18 as the gear came out on downwind. (Hasten to add that pilot error had nothing to do with it - it was supposed to be firmly bolted on).Straight through the engine block of some bloke's "prize" landcruiser. At least, he told the NT News that it was his pride and joy - eyewitness reports suggested that it looked as though it hadn't moved for about 10 years! Anyway, after the RAAF finished paying him compo, he was no doubt able to trade up to a Range Rover....
Those fighter blokes will do anything for a kill!
SW
Only a couple of years ago (during Pitch Black 2000 I think it was), our company launched an inert AIM 7 off an F/A-18 as the gear came out on downwind. (Hasten to add that pilot error had nothing to do with it - it was supposed to be firmly bolted on).Straight through the engine block of some bloke's "prize" landcruiser. At least, he told the NT News that it was his pride and joy - eyewitness reports suggested that it looked as though it hadn't moved for about 10 years! Anyway, after the RAAF finished paying him compo, he was no doubt able to trade up to a Range Rover....
Those fighter blokes will do anything for a kill!
SW
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No one has mentioned if the door was main or nose.
If it was nose, I had a similar experience at Alice Springs with one of the first An 767's many years ago.
All operations were normal and I don't remember any abnormal vibrations.
This was not the first or last with AN and it was found to be caused by a loosly adjusted stay, or actuator arm , I don't remember which.
The section is of composite construction and would be quite leathal.
I only lost one door, and the a/c was ferried back to Melbourne empty.
If it was nose, I had a similar experience at Alice Springs with one of the first An 767's many years ago.
All operations were normal and I don't remember any abnormal vibrations.
This was not the first or last with AN and it was found to be caused by a loosly adjusted stay, or actuator arm , I don't remember which.
The section is of composite construction and would be quite leathal.
I only lost one door, and the a/c was ferried back to Melbourne empty.
Bottums Up
Stop Press ......
NT News 30 July 2002 ...
The true fate of QF61's Gear Doors
The NT News' investigative journalist reveals that as QF61 flew over The Adelaide River late last year, a crocodile 'jumping' for bits of chicken being dangled from the side of the Adelaide River Queen tourist vessel, overshot the mark and instead, left a set of molar prints on the doors of the recently extended landing gear"
After a severe struggle including at least one deathly crocodile roll, the doors broke off and the aircraft escaped further attack."
NT News 30 July 2002 ...
The true fate of QF61's Gear Doors
The NT News' investigative journalist reveals that as QF61 flew over The Adelaide River late last year, a crocodile 'jumping' for bits of chicken being dangled from the side of the Adelaide River Queen tourist vessel, overshot the mark and instead, left a set of molar prints on the doors of the recently extended landing gear"
After a severe struggle including at least one deathly crocodile roll, the doors broke off and the aircraft escaped further attack."
Last edited by Capt Claret; 30th Jul 2002 at 06:38.
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Re the RAAF shooting down the land cruiser - some of the quotes in the SMH were priceless. Now my memory is a bit rusty, but one was along the lines of 'we were just sitting down to our sausage-sandwich lunch, when BANG! I finished my sanger, walked outside & saw that my land cruiser had been demolished'.
Did the knuck get to paint a little stencil of a land cruiser under his cockpit... ??? Wonder if it'll count towards his 'ace' status.
Actually, didn't a Hornet or Aardvark nail a truck near Butterworth a few years ago??!!
Did the knuck get to paint a little stencil of a land cruiser under his cockpit... ??? Wonder if it'll count towards his 'ace' status.
Actually, didn't a Hornet or Aardvark nail a truck near Butterworth a few years ago??!!
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Things that make you go mmmmm
Very interersting stuff this. Actually know someone who knows the bloke who found the bit. He said that he rang the ATSB first and then not long after QANTAS were on the blower to him. They asked if he could "bring it in for us". Slackers! He stated that "no, it won't fit in my car. You want it, you come and get it!" Fair enough too. He found it in bushland near Howard Springs where he often takes a walk.
As a side note, the crew didn't know that it had come off until someone called in from Howard Springs to say that a bit had fallen off "that big plane" and the safety officer had a quick look at the aircraft in the bay. Is there no way that the crew are alerted to such catastrophic component failures in the cockpit?
Cheers,
NFR.
As a side note, the crew didn't know that it had come off until someone called in from Howard Springs to say that a bit had fallen off "that big plane" and the safety officer had a quick look at the aircraft in the bay. Is there no way that the crew are alerted to such catastrophic component failures in the cockpit?
Cheers,
NFR.
Nunc est bibendum
NFR,
1. No there is no way we would know that a bit of metal attached to the landing gear had come off in a situation like that.
2. Spoke the the eng that recieved the aircraft the day it got there. He noticed it taxiing in and alerted the crew on the headsets when he plugged in. Punter who had observed it had called tower and message also got to QF that way.
Hope that clarifies the situation.
1. No there is no way we would know that a bit of metal attached to the landing gear had come off in a situation like that.
2. Spoke the the eng that recieved the aircraft the day it got there. He noticed it taxiing in and alerted the crew on the headsets when he plugged in. Punter who had observed it had called tower and message also got to QF that way.
Hope that clarifies the situation.
