Cessna Caravan ditches near Cairns
 

From www.news.com.au

Occupants survive plane crash
February 8, 2004

TWO men escaped unharmed today after their aircraft's engine failed, forcing them to crash land into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns in far north Queensland.

A police spokeswoman said the pilot and passenger were forced to crash land into the ocean near Green Island, off the Cairns coast, about 4pm (AEST), after their Cessna 208's single engine stalled.

The two occupants were rescued by a passing vessel and escaped without injury.

The incident will be investigated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Glad to hear that the pilot pax are ok. At least around green island, there are lots of boats and divers. Smart decision if at altitude.

Whose was it/what was the rego?

VH-CYC Cape York Air
They ditched it on the lee side of the island, close to shore.
When the plane settled, the wheels were touching the bottom, wings above the surface. They hope to get it ashore on the high tide.

Top Drop,

"They hope to get it to shore" to do what I wonder? . Well done to pilot and crew for walking away.




Sheep

So much for the caravan being rated single pilot single engine IFR due to a reliable engine. Anyone know what happened here?

Ang ;)

Steady on Ang, aside from the media speculation ("Cessna 208's single engine stalled" :ugh: ), the cause is as yet unknown. That aircraft may not have current ASEPA approval.

I have my thoughts but let's wait for the ATSB Report, eh?

And I had fond memories of that C208............ One of only three aerial photography Caravans ever built. :(

Came at a bad time I'd think, with the Cape York RASS Tender closing February 20.

I hope it wasn't Dr Nadz. I knew Hairy would have a bad influence on you. Get back to Sinney town where the surf is goooooood and you can play the blues in style at the Rose of Oz.

I think I know what happened ANG737, you jumped the gun again!!!!!!!:mad:
Glad to hear the Doctor didn't get his tootsies wet. Good job Doc.:ok:

Not that I'm suggesting anything here ... but was just wondering ... is it normal practise to do mid air engine out/restarts in a single-engined-anything?

Single engine relight
 

Sorry guys, nothing to do with the above accident, but in reply to sprocket..

I am pretty sure doing an in flight relight is part of the normal endorsment proceedures. Both of the single engine Turbine endo's I have done, a complete shutdown and relight has been done. Was an item to be ticked on the endorsment form(CASA).. As it is something that cannot really be simulated, like a piston engine. However was done at height (8000-10,000ft) and above an airstrip suitable for a forced landing. From 8500ft, had plenty of time to secure the engine, talk about the relight proceedures, wait for cooling if necessary then giving it a go. It does help as I have had to do an actual air start.
I am not sure what the rules and regs are about shutting down a single engine turbine in flight. Maybe someone could elaborate.. Knowing our trusty Aussie regs, it would say NO!!!!, followed by 12 pages of exemptions! for example, would be permitted if....

para 1- The Pilot is cool
para 2- Only on cloudy days 7/8ths or more
para 3- If the pilot wants to (see para 1)
para 4- If nobody is watching
etc... etc.... :ok:

Anyways, sounds like the pilot/pilots involved did a bloody good job to get the a/c down safely..

well on my rating for the SET I fly, an inflight shutdown was not performed. CASA are well aware of this too.

Do you do them in a piston single? Why should a SET be any different? You can simulate just as effectively.

Twas a fair while ago that I did my S/E Turbine - and I remember the Caravan has a glide ratio that was pretty impressive to say the least............... But I dont recall doing an inflight relight!!:eek:

Poor ol' gal - fond memories of doing HOT turnarounds on the postal run out of Cairns in er' - Gettin my @rse and eyebrows scalded every stop to deliver the mail, while the captain sat up front in aircon comfort patiently awaiting my return to the cockpit!:}

Lets see what the BASI investigation reveals - and not speculate too much!! :hmm:

Thanks for your replies, even though the question was slightly off topic.

Wessex please enlighten me on when I last jumped the gun ???

Ang ;)

C.Y.A havent had a good record with Caravans have they ??

At least they hold the SAR contract for Nth Qld !!

Topper. CYA only ever had one C208 Caravan, VH-CYC acquired around 1996 from Hamburg in Germany.

I don't recall any other incidents, other than a taxing prop strike at a remote Cape strip some years ago?

Indeed, considering the previous Trislander, Aztec, Islander, Navajo flying museum combo on the mail services, the Caravan was a remarkably improvement and very well accepted.

Definate imporvement over nearly any piston aircraft I can think of......

Who operated the one that got wet on a beach at Badu in umm 95 I think it was ??

Torres

I think Topper might be getting confused with the now defunked Uzu Air that had a couple of incidents and accidents with their C208’s a few years back in the Straits. You know the one’s I’m talking about don’t you Torres???;)

Yup. Including the first beach front Caravan Park at Badu Island. :(

Didn't get wet and it was 1999 from memory.

Definitely before 1999.

My poor old memory.
 

I'd reckon Torres would remember it well.

However a quick look in my logbook tells me it might have been in (17-19?) Oct '98, as I remember flying past and having a look. I was in Horn on that day. I remember I'd not been in the area before and was a bit nervous about all the traffic.

I did spend some time in Horn from Dec 99 forward, so it may have been then, but I don't think so. Correct me if you have any recollections to the contrary.

Two Dogs :cool: