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26 Years ago today. DC-3 ditches in Botany Bay
Just read "From Hero to Zero" the story of the successful ditching of VH-EDL a DC-3, into Botany Bay, Sydney.
Brief summary: No 1 engine failed at 200 feet after takeoff from Sydney Runway 16. For various factors identified in the report, the single engine climb performance of the DC-3 was practically negative. The first officer was PF for the takeoff. The captain took over control after feathering the defective engine propeller. When it was obvious the DC-3 was unable to climb in its current configuration the captain made the decision to ditch. The time from engine failure to ditching was 46 seconds. All passengers and crew survived the ditching. By coincidence the date of the accident 24 April 1994 was just 26 years ago almost to the day. . The story was first published in 2019 by the author Rod Lovell, the captain of the DC-3. The book is well worth reading by all pilots; especially those who have flown a DC-3. . Like most dramatic events there are usually two sides to the story. . Hero to Zero is the captain's side of this fascinating tale. For that reason I found it better to read the BASIS report first to facilitate better context. https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24341/...401043_001.pdf The BASIS report published all those years ago takes a fair size swipe at the then Regulator as well as the operator. |
Originally Posted by Centaurus
(Post 10762441)
Just read "From Hero to Zero" the story of the successful ditching of VH-EDL a DC-3, into Botany Bay, Sydney.
Brief summary: No 1 engine failed at 200 feet after takeoff from Sydney Runway 16. For various factors identified in the report, the single engine climb performance of the DC-3 was practically negative. The first officer was PF for the takeoff. The captain took over control after feathering the defective engine propeller. When it was obvious the DC-3 was unable to climb in its current configuration the captain made the decision to ditch. The time from engine failure to ditching was 46 seconds. All passengers and crew survived the ditching. By coincidence the date of the accident 24 April 1994 was just 26 years ago almost to the day. . The story was first published in 2019 by the author Rod Lovell, the captain of the DC-3. The book is well worth reading by all pilots; especially those who have flown a DC-3. . Like most dramatic events there are usually two sides to the story. . Hero to Zero is the captain's side of this fascinating tale. For that reason I found it better to read the BASIS report first to facilitate better context. https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24341/...401043_001.pdf The BASIS report published all those years ago takes a fair size swipe at the then Regulator as well as the operator. |
Good old St. Nicholas.
Seems to have a bad run of luck, his Short's Belfast is rotting away at Cairns airport. |
They dodged a bullet that day. If they had got offshore and had the failure it would not have ended as well. If they had got to LHI with that load and not crashed on landing, chances are they would have on the next take-off. And if they had got airborne and had the failure half way to NLK they would have really found out the meaning of 'remote'.
But to read St Nick's posts under one of his two known aliases (some time ago), they really were heroes who saved the day. I am not religious, but perhaps there is truth in the saying - "The good Lord looks after drunks and fools and little children" |
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