Aircrane loses landing gear in flight
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: I am not sure where we are, but at least it is getting dark
Aircrane loses landing gear in flight
Does anyone have pictures of the crane that apparently had to land on a pick up truck, after losing one of its landing gear in flight?
Happened recently in Canada I'm told.
Happened recently in Canada I'm told.
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
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From: Canada
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Alberta
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Devon
Skycrane
The ATSB issued a warning after the Slycrane 2019 incident.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 413
Likes: 83
From: Alberta
The ATSB issued a warning after the Slycrane 2019 incident.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 197
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From: Sussex, New Brunswick. Formerly Bowen Island B.C. Canada - one of the greatest places to live on Earth...
I know of a prior instance of this occurring in the late 1980s at Erickson but haven't heard of anything more recent. Sometimes it takes a while for news to travel this far east! 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,018
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From: Pewsey, UK
The ATSB issued a warning after the Slycrane 2019 incident.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...ir/ao-2019-008
Reminded me of the accident in Scotland to G-PLMA ( https://assets.publishing.service.go...996_G-PLMA.pdf page 29 ) where the helmet strap caused the fatality because the helmet didn't disconnect.
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From: Beyond the black stump!
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...s-pickup-truck
- June 15, 2023, 10:24 AM
An Erickson S-64E Skycrane used the bed of a pickup truck as a landing surface after its right gear detached in flight. (Photo: Erickson)An Erickson S-64E Skycrane heli-logging in Port Douglas, British Columbia, Canada, earlier this month used the bed of a pickup truck for support after its right main landing gear detached while entering a hover. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the right main landing gear oleo and strut assembly “decoupled from the helicopter (N172AC).” The gear fell to the ground in the service landing area without damage to equipment or personnel.
The helicopter’s two-man crew then performed a light landing using the nose and left main gear to onboard more fuel while keeping the right main gear housing off the ground. Flight and ground crews communicated and coordinated their actions via radio and hand signals. A pickup truck was then maneuvered into the place of the decoupled landing gear and the pilot landed the right gear housing structure into the bed of the vehicle. The maintenance crew inspected and replaced the right landing gear with a complete oleo, strut, and housing assembly.
In an e-mail to AIN, Erickson said a "Canadian Air-Crane recently made a non-standard landing after an oleo separated from their aircraft. Due to the quick thinking of their experienced crew, the aircraft was able to land safely. We are continuing to review the cause of this incident, and out of an abundance of caution we have issued a service bulletin advising operators to take appropriate actions to prevent similar occurrences."
Air Crane Lands on Pickup Truck
by Mark Huber- June 15, 2023, 10:24 AM
An Erickson S-64E Skycrane used the bed of a pickup truck as a landing surface after its right gear detached in flight. (Photo: Erickson)An Erickson S-64E Skycrane heli-logging in Port Douglas, British Columbia, Canada, earlier this month used the bed of a pickup truck for support after its right main landing gear detached while entering a hover. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the right main landing gear oleo and strut assembly “decoupled from the helicopter (N172AC).” The gear fell to the ground in the service landing area without damage to equipment or personnel.
The helicopter’s two-man crew then performed a light landing using the nose and left main gear to onboard more fuel while keeping the right main gear housing off the ground. Flight and ground crews communicated and coordinated their actions via radio and hand signals. A pickup truck was then maneuvered into the place of the decoupled landing gear and the pilot landed the right gear housing structure into the bed of the vehicle. The maintenance crew inspected and replaced the right landing gear with a complete oleo, strut, and housing assembly.
In an e-mail to AIN, Erickson said a "Canadian Air-Crane recently made a non-standard landing after an oleo separated from their aircraft. Due to the quick thinking of their experienced crew, the aircraft was able to land safely. We are continuing to review the cause of this incident, and out of an abundance of caution we have issued a service bulletin advising operators to take appropriate actions to prevent similar occurrences."
Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Southern United States
This is why I always double check that the MLG strut is attached every time we takeoff and land🤣
Our former Chief Pilot told us about an Oleo coming apart on an H-60 when he was a crew chief, I think about that story at least once a week.
Flt Mech
Our former Chief Pilot told us about an Oleo coming apart on an H-60 when he was a crew chief, I think about that story at least once a week.
Flt Mech
