Another plane down in Nepal
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International air ops to and from the international airport are as safe as anywhere else, the turbo prop domestic side of things seems to be a different story....they operate to challenging airports in often less than optimal weather conditions, weather this morning here was fine, the bird strike theory seems plausible as reported by the crew
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sterile accident scene?
Saw the tv news pictures, in particular the crowds of people milling around the crash site, taking photos, and the army seemed to be dragging bits of wreckage around. I hardly think this is conducive to preserving the scene for investigation. A tragedy though it is of course.
Dornier 228 Certification
Note that the Dornier 228 is certificated to FAR 23 up to amendment 23. That means it has no requirement whatsoever to withstand a bird strike. It could legally be downed by a well aimed sparrow! Once up on a time such aircraft were limited to max 9 pax. The story of how 19 occupants came to be put at risk dispels forever the myth that "safety is paramount"
Note that the Dornier 228 is certificated to FAR 23 up to amendment 23. That means it has no requirement whatsoever to withstand a bird strike. It could legally be downed by a well aimed sparrow! Once up on a time such aircraft were limited to max 9 pax. The story of how 19 occupants came to be put at risk dispels forever the myth that "safety is paramount"
The More informative data is service history on similar age part 23 aircraft.
Not "pencil whipping". FAR 25 aircraft are thoroughly tested to prove their tolerance to bird strike. FAR 23 are not; which was perhaps justifiable when such planes were restricted to 9 pax.
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In the USA it was originally certified under SFAR-41..sort of a crossover between part 23 and part 25...later to be known as part 23"commuter category"
one engine was certainly caged, the other was developing power to the prop at impact...
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Our AAIB are lending a hand:
BBC News - Nepal plane crash: Britons' family and friends pay tribute
Air accident investigators from the UK are heading to Kathmandu to investigate the plane crash which also killed seven Nepalis and five Chinese nationals.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was sending two staff
to Kathmandu to assist local authorities.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was sending two staff
to Kathmandu to assist local authorities.
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Well that's that then ....
I'm not sure why the AAIB are sending a team all the way to Katmandu when the cause is already attributed to Pilot Error? At least they didn't try and blame the poor bird .... and I guess the plane was properly loaded?
Shame on you Senior Ministry Official (wozzat?) Shame on you BBC and Telegraph and any others partaking in the feeding frenzy while the wreckage is still smoking
Shame on you Senior Ministry Official (wozzat?) Shame on you BBC and Telegraph and any others partaking in the feeding frenzy while the wreckage is still smoking
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I would rather be asking questions than jumping to conclusions.
Did the Dornier have autofeather and if so did it work ?.
Did the aircraft achieve Vmc ?
When did the PF last practice an EFATO ?.
Was the weight and balance within limits ?
There is seldom a single direct cause in any accident, just a list of contributing factors.
Did the Dornier have autofeather and if so did it work ?.
Did the aircraft achieve Vmc ?
When did the PF last practice an EFATO ?.
Was the weight and balance within limits ?
There is seldom a single direct cause in any accident, just a list of contributing factors.
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The AAIB provides a service on request to many (usually commonwealth) countries who do not have the expertise to carry out their own investigations or who need specialist help in individual cases.
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Having had some experience with being given overloaded Do228s to fly with a company much closer to home I am surprised that the combination of 19 souls, undoubtably a lot of baggage and appreciable density altitude has not surfaced before.
Doubtless someone out there can provide ballpark figures for weights, fuel load for that trip etc and I have little doubt it might become clearer. Much clearer. The 228 isn't overpowered and a birdstrike (which seems pretty well documented in this event) at low level might well go badly in an overloaded condition. Given a gross overload...
I did like the eyewitness "report" in yesterday's Times in which some bozo said the aircraft was on fire when it flew past him and so he tried to throw a bucket of water on it. Staggering. Simply staggering presence of mind and speed of reactions.
Doubtless someone out there can provide ballpark figures for weights, fuel load for that trip etc and I have little doubt it might become clearer. Much clearer. The 228 isn't overpowered and a birdstrike (which seems pretty well documented in this event) at low level might well go badly in an overloaded condition. Given a gross overload...
I did like the eyewitness "report" in yesterday's Times in which some bozo said the aircraft was on fire when it flew past him and so he tried to throw a bucket of water on it. Staggering. Simply staggering presence of mind and speed of reactions.
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Originally Posted by Agaricus bisporus
Having had some experience with being given overloaded Do228s to fly with a company much closer to home I am surprised that the combination of 19 souls, undoubtedly a lot of baggage and appreciable density altitude has not surfaced before.
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Luggage is limited when trekking as it all has to be carried... When I went to the Annapurna trek I spent 3 weeks using a linen tea towl as a towel! There was the total luggage I took with me, and what I took on the trek which came down to what would fit in my daypack, and a moderate-size rucksack.