NZ Volcano eruption on White Island
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Monday 19th September 1994 Rabaul Airport , Papua New Guinea the BN2 & Cessna 402s belonged to Airlink and the AS350 was owned by Pacific Helicopters. I will never forget that morning we were the only flyable light Aircraft to leave (Airlink Cessna 404) just after 6am minutes after Tavurvur erupted,followed by the Air Niugini F-28 which had overnighted and they were the last Aircraft to ever use the old Airport, we landed at the disused Tokua Airport, now the main Rabaul Airport.
I did a trip to White Island in 1997 about a year before I moved from Gisborne to Wairarapa.
It was with a company called Vulcan Helicopters, but I don't think they exist any more.
We flew out there in a Hughes 500, four of us plus the pilot.
It was an amazing trip, but I got the feeling it could potentially be a very dangerous place and the air was full of sulphur fumes.
It was with a company called Vulcan Helicopters, but I don't think they exist any more.
We flew out there in a Hughes 500, four of us plus the pilot.
It was an amazing trip, but I got the feeling it could potentially be a very dangerous place and the air was full of sulphur fumes.
Yes, Vulcan Helicopters used to operate out to White Island out of Whakatane.
Robert was the owner and pilot. I used to work for him as ground crew cleaning his helicopter every day after the last tour. He sold the Hughes and got a BK117 B2, with 10 seats.
Being such a corrosive environment, Robert and I spent about 2 hours each day cleaning his aircraft and gear carefully, compressor wash etc. Hard hats and gas masks for all.
PJ’s tours was the boat based operator. Every operator out there was very cautious and in contact with GNS volcanologist all the time. These are not cowboy operators. I’m quite frankly disgusted about some of the comments made by the attention seeking volcanologist from Monash that is Captain Hindsight. Obvious attempt to grab his 3 seconds of fame and hopefully life time of infamy. Pratt. Tours have operated to White Island for over 30 years managing the risk carefully.
I ve also been to White Island a few times too. You’d land near the water at the flat area where the crater walk has gone. Then it was about a hour walk around the island, often to the crater lake edge, but back from it because it wasn’t sure how stable the edge was. The island is alive. It lives and breathes. It moves and definitely has moods. There are many fumaroles belching out jets of steam at over 150 km/hr. Was like standing next to a jet engine exhaust.The air is acrid. Sour like lemon juice but 10x worse. Hence masks on. Often your clothes would come back bleached from the sulphuric acid vapour.
Volcanoes by by their nature are unpredictable. It doesn’t make the loss any more acceptable but a criminal investigation and apportioning blame will achieve very little. But such is the ill considered emotion reaction of the internet generation that doesn’t have the foggiest idea about risk management and judgement.
Here is some helicopter footage in the immediate aftermath of the eruption.
t starts as a daunting white cloud hanging in the distance - and it doesn't take long for the enormity of the White Island volcano blast to become clear.
Footage shows what courageous helicopter rescuers went through as they battled their way through thick clouds of smoke, ash and acidic steam following the eruption on Monday.
The death toll is feared to be as high as 13 after the volcano, known locally as Whakaari, blew off the coast of New Zealand's North Island at 2.11pm local time.
Footage released by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust shows two brave first responders landing on the island and shielding their eyes from billowing ash.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...oll-rises.html
t starts as a daunting white cloud hanging in the distance - and it doesn't take long for the enormity of the White Island volcano blast to become clear.
Footage shows what courageous helicopter rescuers went through as they battled their way through thick clouds of smoke, ash and acidic steam following the eruption on Monday.
The death toll is feared to be as high as 13 after the volcano, known locally as Whakaari, blew off the coast of New Zealand's North Island at 2.11pm local time.
Footage released by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust shows two brave first responders landing on the island and shielding their eyes from billowing ash.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...oll-rises.html
Drain Bamaged
Those chickenlickens should be asking why people are allowed to drive motor vehicles on New Zealand's roads.
Motor vehicle crashes on NZ roads kill hundreds of people every year … way more than any volcano has ever killed in New Zealand, including the Mount Tarawera eruption and the Tangiwai rail disaster.
Motor vehicle crashes on NZ roads kill hundreds of people every year … way more than any volcano has ever killed in New Zealand, including the Mount Tarawera eruption and the Tangiwai rail disaster.
Personally I never had any interest playing Russia roulette with an active volcano.
Same with testing my driving skills in Nigeria
Would bet on the wind generated from the blast, and not falling rocks. The machine has moved off the platform (aft it seems) and I can only imagine the amount of flapping those blades would do being exposed to such wind force. The blades does not seem to have any other damage than them being snapped.
Just for reference to what kind of damage a volcanic eruption can do....for tens of miles distant from the Volcano.
Also....for those operating aircraft and vehicles in volcanic dust.....it is very abrasive pumice.
Inspect your aircraft very...very carefully to include inside the gearboxes and engines....bearings...bushings....everything.
https://www.livescience.com/27553-mo...-eruption.html
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/eru...t-helens-1980/
Also....for those operating aircraft and vehicles in volcanic dust.....it is very abrasive pumice.
Inspect your aircraft very...very carefully to include inside the gearboxes and engines....bearings...bushings....everything.
https://www.livescience.com/27553-mo...-eruption.html
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/eru...t-helens-1980/
Two of three blades damaged identically....third looks undamaged.
Seems odd two of three would fail from the same maneuvering forces at the same point on the blades but the third shows no similar failure.
Seems odd two of three would fail from the same maneuvering forces at the same point on the blades but the third shows no similar failure.
Considering it looks like it has been blown off the back of the pad, the blades more than likely failed in bending overload in the "up" direction first?
I assume it was "parked" before the eruption facing the direction of the blast? Some serious air velocity there.
I assume it was "parked" before the eruption facing the direction of the blast? Some serious air velocity there.
Would bet on the wind generated from the blast, and not falling rocks. The machine has moved off the platform (aft it seems) and I can only imagine the amount of flapping those blades would do being exposed to such wind force. The blades does not seem to have any other damage than them being snapped.
Incidentally, one report says the pilot/guide and his 4 pax were among the less-injured evacuees, presumably because they (and the helo) were at the foot of the cwm near the sea and boat docks, while the eruption came from the upper end (lake area).
Thread Starter
Exactly - the aircraft was parked on the wooden pallet and neither flying nor running. Just sitting there, and damaged and dislodged by the blast wave.
Incidentally, one report says the pilot/guide and his 4 pax were among the less-injured evacuees, presumably because they (and the helo) were at the foot of the cwm near the sea and boat docks, while the eruption came from the upper end (lake area).
Incidentally, one report says the pilot/guide and his 4 pax were among the less-injured evacuees, presumably because they (and the helo) were at the foot of the cwm near the sea and boat docks, while the eruption came from the upper end (lake area).
A down draught effect from the initial ejection of earth as it fell back to ground?
Quotes from 1st responder pilot.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/11810...-chopper-pilot
Mjb
I'm no geologist but could the hot ash "melt" or thermally weaken the blades and cause the structural failures seen in the photo? I agree that it does not look like impact damage now that there are better images.
Very sadly, the death toll from this will eventually be much higher.
Those seriously injured are very badly burned.
An old boss who used to be an ED nurse once told me death is inevitable in situations like that - body simply cannot cope.
Usually takes a few days.
Dreadful.
Those seriously injured are very badly burned.
An old boss who used to be an ED nurse once told me death is inevitable in situations like that - body simply cannot cope.
Usually takes a few days.
Dreadful.
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Blade failure White Island
Most rotor blades are fabricated by adhesively bonding skins onto the spar and a honeycomb core. Adhesive design properties change significantly with temperature, the hotter the adhesive, the lower the strength and stiffness. If they get hot enough, the temperature may pass what is termed the Glass Transition Temperature where they change from a stiff glassy material to a soft, weak rubbery material. My guess is that the adhesive became so weak that the weight of the blades and the ash caused the blade to fail.
So sad.
Blakmax
So sad.
Blakmax
Most rotor blades are fabricated by adhesively bonding skins onto the spar and a honeycomb core. Adhesive design properties change significantly with temperature, the hotter the adhesive, the lower the strength and stiffness. If they get hot enough, the temperature may pass what is termed the Glass Transition Temperature where they change from a stiff glassy material to a soft, weak rubbery material. My guess is that the adhesive became so weak that the weight of the blades and the ash caused the blade to fail.
So sad.
Blakmax
So sad.
Blakmax
My condolences to all affected and those that have lost loved ones.
Yes, Vulcan Helicopters used to operate out to White Island out of Whakatane.
Robert was the owner and pilot. I used to work for him as ground crew cleaning his helicopter every day after the last tour. He sold the Hughes and got a BK117 B2, with 10 seats.
Being such a corrosive environment, Robert and I spent about 2 hours each day cleaning his aircraft and gear carefully, compressor wash etc. Hard hats and gas masks for all.
PJ’s tours was the boat based operator. Every operator out there was very cautious and in contact with GNS volcanologist all the time. These are not cowboy operators. I’m quite frankly disgusted about some of the comments made by the attention seeking volcanologist from Monash that is Captain Hindsight. Obvious attempt to grab his 3 seconds of fame and hopefully life time of infamy. Pratt. Tours have operated to White Island for over 30 years managing the risk carefully.
I ve also been to White Island a few times too. You’d land near the water at the flat area where the crater walk has gone. Then it was about a hour walk around the island, often to the crater lake edge, but back from it because it wasn’t sure how stable the edge was. The island is alive. It lives and breathes. It moves and definitely has moods. There are many fumaroles belching out jets of steam at over 150 km/hr. Was like standing next to a jet engine exhaust.The air is acrid. Sour like lemon juice but 10x worse. Hence masks on. Often your clothes would come back bleached from the sulphuric acid vapour.
Volcanoes by by their nature are unpredictable. It doesn’t make the loss any more acceptable but a criminal investigation and apportioning blame will achieve very little. But such is the ill considered emotion reaction of the internet generation that doesn’t have the foggiest idea about risk management and judgement.
I agree entirely.
Gate_15L,
Thank you for that accurate and considered dose of reality and common sense. The public has very little idea of what risk management involves. And instant analyses by those who do not know what they are talking about, and often with demands for instant retribution, do not help at all.
Sympathy should be extended to all the victims and there relatives, but also to those who tried to manage the risks in a responsible manner, but were caught out.
Thank you for that accurate and considered dose of reality and common sense. The public has very little idea of what risk management involves. And instant analyses by those who do not know what they are talking about, and often with demands for instant retribution, do not help at all.
Sympathy should be extended to all the victims and there relatives, but also to those who tried to manage the risks in a responsible manner, but were caught out.
The machine is off the pad, with it's right landing gear and one blade buried in the gravel/ash/sand, partly resting on that blade (look at the position of the blade-root/sleeve/star). Now, I'd like to know how hot ash would cause all of that..... and as John say, why no other melting damages?
Could the blades all have “melted”? Drooped due heat at the end of an internal “spar”?