Incident - Lancair IV-4P-T depressurises at FL250
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Incident - Lancair IV-4P-T depressurises at FL250
A Lancair IV-4P-T (VH-OPR) was en-route from Jandakot to Mt Gambier at FL250 when the starboard cabin window separated. Fortunately there was no damage to the airframe.
The incident occurred to the SW of Kangaroo Island and the aircraft diverted to Adelaide for a safe landing.
FlightAware track
The incident occurred to the SW of Kangaroo Island and the aircraft diverted to Adelaide for a safe landing.
FlightAware track
........sheez that's a looooong way to be off the coast with only one donk!!!They are damned lucky it didn't send the plane downward into the sea then Jaba it would have been much bigger news!
Wmk2
Wmk2
Aircraft was "escorted" by UniSA Baron HFB (which was on its way to Kingscote) before being intercepted by RAAF PC-9 using callsign Tester05. He was offered (and took) 05 with 10kts of tailwind. Was cleared to land by Ad Appch.
Last edited by AmarokGTI; 2nd Jul 2012 at 12:05.
The time it takes for the cabin to depressurise depends on the size of the hole, and the volume of air in the cabin.
An explosive decompression with a large window in a tiny cabin like that is no joke
An explosive decompression with a large window in a tiny cabin like that is no joke
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I am with Checkers...its no joke.
But still a slow news day for AD
Hay Wally, Retard Vehicle is not pressurised and will stay that way.
O2 to FL160 is about all I need to do.
But still a slow news day for AD
Hay Wally, Retard Vehicle is not pressurised and will stay that way.
O2 to FL160 is about all I need to do.
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WMk2
At FL250 AND 300 Kts they would have made landfall easily without power. The FlightAware profile shows a GS after the emergency at 185 Kts. If they had to ditch at least they would have had an extra emergency exit.
It would be interesting to know whether they had (or required to have) emergency O2 on board.
........sheez that's a looooong way to be off the coast with only one donk!!!They are damned lucky it didn't send the plane downward into the sea then Jaba it would have been much bigger news!
It would be interesting to know whether they had (or required to have) emergency O2 on board.
They will have emergency O2 on board. The issue is that at FL280 the average useful consciousnesses is about 4 minutes. Its a salutatory experience to do the hypoxia training. While you may have useful consciousness for 4 minutes, your dexterity is pretty compromised before then.
At FL250 it won't be a lot more than 4 minutes. So, it requires some pretty decisive action. I think ordinary masks are required rather than quick donning ones. But by the time you take time to figure out what's going on, react, put on a mask, etc I can imagine it would eat up a fair bit of the useful consciousness time. It would be an experience.
At FL250 it won't be a lot more than 4 minutes. So, it requires some pretty decisive action. I think ordinary masks are required rather than quick donning ones. But by the time you take time to figure out what's going on, react, put on a mask, etc I can imagine it would eat up a fair bit of the useful consciousness time. It would be an experience.
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The news report stated that the occupants "of the tiny 2 seater" donned their oxygen masks to descend. The window (looks more like a door from the pics) hit the wing (not sure how that happened at 300 knots) and missed the tail.
On their way from Perth to Tasmania to catch a flight to New Zealand for a snowboarding holiday.
Photo from Channel 7.
Lucky escape after window falls from plane - Yahoo!7
On their way from Perth to Tasmania to catch a flight to New Zealand for a snowboarding holiday.
Photo from Channel 7.
Lucky escape after window falls from plane - Yahoo!7
Pilot and pax appear very relaxed given they could have been lunch for a great white.
What's your confidence level in pressurized kit-build aircraft now?
What's your confidence level in pressurized kit-build aircraft now?
Last edited by Captain Garmin; 3rd Jul 2012 at 21:48.
Oh come on - settle down!
According to the Lancair website, this aircraft is pressurised to ONLY 5 psi at FL250.
Their TUC (time of useful consciousness) is 3-6 minutes.
They would have had time to have a cuppa before doing anything drastic. Sure it might have been a bit chilly, but really.
Think about the guys up around 50k that have a PSID of around 9 and TUC is around 5-8 SECONDS (not minutes).
Their TUC (time of useful consciousness) is 3-6 minutes.
They would have had time to have a cuppa before doing anything drastic. Sure it might have been a bit chilly, but really.
Think about the guys up around 50k that have a PSID of around 9 and TUC is around 5-8 SECONDS (not minutes).
Only 5psi at FL250? That's probably an 8,000ft cabin altitude or less. I think that is as good or better than any other pressurised light aircraft. Work out the force over the entire area of a part (say door) at 5psi. Its pretty significant and requires pretty good engineering.
I'd suggest that the only people that think dealing with this is easy haven't done hypoxia training and / or had a window / door issue in flight.
I'd suggest that the only people that think dealing with this is easy haven't done hypoxia training and / or had a window / door issue in flight.
With all due respect Old Akro, you have probably heard of the old saying "there I was, 50,000ft, nothing on the clock but the makers name and that was in French......" Well, my mate, I've been there in THAT EXACT situation and it happened to me. (Gliding properties of a brick...ring a bell?). So I would say to have it at 25,000ft would be a walk in the park compared.