Francisco Cunha - ✈️ Aviation et al

Pilot killed and four pax seriously wounded in an R-66 crash yesterday in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Local media reported the helicopter might have had an issue with the tail rotor. A source close to the matter hinted that the helicopter had LTE – Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness, likely due to a combination of heavy load and weather (high temperature and high Barometric pressure)*. LTE is, quote: "a critical aerodynamic phenomenon in single-rotor helicopters where the tail rotor fails to produce enough thrust to counteract the torque of the main rotor, resulting in an uncommanded rapid yaw (typically to the right in counterclockwise main rotor systems)" *Do note this is just “informed speculation” and not from an official source on the issue. An investigation has been opened on the occurrence. [Helicopter registration was "PP-MYO", operator “Spring Aviation Administração Aeronáutica Ltda”] – Video by Roberto Leal Adventures (IG) @aero_in

Deadliest midair collision in History was 30 years ago OTD in 1996: Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision (India), involving Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 (B-747) and Air Kazakhstan Flight 1907 (IL-76). All 349 on both jets died. Cause: F1907 made unauthorized descend into the path of F763. The final investigation found that the collision occurred because the crew of Flight 1907 failed to maintain their assigned altitude. Contributing factors included limited English proficiency in the Il-76 cockpit, which hindered the crew’s understanding of air traffic control instructions, as well as three specific failures in crew resource management by the Kazakh crew. The accident remains the deadliest mid-air collision in history, the deadliest aviation accident with no survivors, and the deadliest aviation accident in the Indian subcontinent. Both aircraft were being handled by an approach controller from Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) – The Saudia 747 had departed, the Kazakhstan Il-76 was arriving – and were about 60 miles from the airport. Investigators also noted that despite being one of the largest airports in India, it had only primary radar, which showed an aircraft’s distance and bearing but not its altitude. The report recommended technical improvements, including airborne collision avoidance systems (such as TCAS) and the installation of a secondary surveillance radar in the airport. Video is from the 2009 Mayday ACI Episode "Sight Unseen", which includes some statements from a USAF C-5 pilot who was airborne in the vicinity and witnessed the collision.

Largest ever airliner to be “downed” by a bird strike On This day in 1975 - ONA Flight 032, a DC-10 is about to depart from JFK to Frankfurt. On the take-off run, jet had a bird strike, #3 engine disintegrated, damaging hydraulics. Aircraft veered off runway, undercarriage collapsed and started a massive fire, which destroyed the plane. One of the reasons for the successful evacuation was that nearly all passengers were ONA crew members. The aircraft was on a position flight destined to Mecca, where it would spend a season operating charter flights. The inquiry determined that the bird strike led to an uncontained engine failure. This burst several landing-gear tires and damaged the hydraulic system, reducing the effectiveness of the spoilers and wheel brakes. The failure of the thrust reverser (T/R) and the wet runway also contributed to the accident. General Electric, which built the DC-10’s CF6 engines, disagreed in part with the NTSB’s findings. It argued that the engine failure resulted from debris entering the engine after the main landing-gear wheel, and that the tire failed before the bird strike. Remarkably, there´s actual footage of the crash taken from the cockpit, filmed from the jump seat by one of the deadheading crew. Quality isn´t very good – amateur cameras were in their infancy – but definitively a rare document here youtu.be/A0Sbq4UudNg

➡️ November 11 2002: Laoag International Flight 585, an F-27, crashes off Manilla (Philippines), 19 of 34 aboard die. Crew reported engine problems shortly after takeoff and ended up ditching in Manilla Bay. Enquiry stated pilots failed to notice that the fuel valves were closed. More accidents from this date (November 11 below) ➡️ 1946: United Airlines Flight 404, a DC-3, crashes in Cleveland (Ohio, US), 2 of 20 aboard die. On approach, aircraft impacted ground near runway on CFIT. Inquiry pointed pilot confused runway markers, also noting he should have diverted to due to bad weather. ➡️ 1991: Nordeste Flight 115, an EMB-110, crashes in Pernambuco (Brazil). All 15 aboard , 2 on the ground die. #2 engine failed on take-off roll, crew opted to continue and it exploded 30 secs after liftoff, causing a loss of control. Factors: improper maintenance, crew actions. ➡️ 1992: a Russian AF An-22 [CCCP-09303] crashes in Tver (Russia). All 33 aboard die. Shortly after take-off, plane went out of control, hit ground 6 mi from airport. Inquiry stated aircraft was overloaded by 20 tons and unbalanced by improper cargo distribution. ➡️ 1983: a Soviet AF An-12 [Reg. Unknown] crashes off Sakhalin (Russia). All 30 aboard die. Three minutes after taking off from Iturup island in bad weather, reportedly due to an instrument issue, aircraft went down on the sea. Wreck was only found in January 1984. ➡️ 1965: Aeroflot Flight 99, a Tu-124, crashes in Murmansk (Russia) 32 of 64 aboard die. On approach, jet hit an ice-covered lake 0.9 mi from runway in CFIT. Factors: poor weather (sudden deterioration of visibility), crew actions (descent below glide), improper ATC actions. ➡️ 1945: a USAAF B-17 [43-39197] on a transport flight disappears in Lazio (Italy). Last message stated crew were diverting de to clouds. Wreck was found in May 1946 in Mt. Meta. It´s likely crew misjudged the bad weather (severe icing) and flight was improperly prepared. ➡️ 1945: a RAF Stirling on a transport flight [Registration “PJ950” ] crashes in Tripoli (Libya). Of 29 aboard, 1 survivor. Accident occurred shortly take-off from. Cause undetermined, it is believed one of the engines caught fire during maneuver, likely due to a fuel leak. ➡️ 1966: a USAF EC-121 [55-5262] crashes off Massachusetts (US), all 19 aboard die. Radar contact was lost and shortly after aircraft was seen to pass over two fishing vessels at low altitude, reportedly with engines backfiring. It hit the water 125 mi East off Nantucket. ➡️ 1944: a USAAF C-54 [Registration “42-72252”] crashes off Hawaii (US). All 17 aboard die. The wreckage was located some 50 miles NE from Oahu Island. Accident occurred while on a flight from Novato-Hamilton AFB, California to Hawaii.

Look at those eyes: psychiatrists will have a full day with this interview of Suzanne Von Richtoffen / documentary that debuted this week on Netflix Brazil (For those who don´t know, she was convicted of orchestrating the 2002 murder of her parents in São Paulo) Three days after the crime, she held a pool party in the house where her parents were murdered (the older brunette speaking was one of the original investigators). As a teen, I could enter cemeteries at night; I watch horror movies to sleep, but this is, by far, one of the scariest people I came across. (Highly recommend the documentary, 5 out of 5 – the name of the documentary is “The Unthinkable Daughter”)

Only now have I noticed this is a female voice on the radio. (Whenever an accident happens, gender is the last of the priorities) But then I remembered one thing: - Over the past weeks, we´ve been seeing so many “experts” the lady co-pilot of the Learjet crash, saying she was “a product of DEI”, “too young", "unqualified, etc…” - Now we have this: this lady held her composure, made calm radio calls, and they landed safely. Not a word of compliment from all those "aviation experts” now, on the merits of her actions. Not a single one. They only wanted clickbait or spell Incel shit out of their mom´s basements. The mothers of the persons behind those fake profiles, had they any understanding of the misinformation, hateful crap they share, they would regret not wearing condoms that night. This was my TED Talk.

This captain failed several checks, and a training board recommended that he be removed from flying, but he kept operating “under the radar” until this sad accident killed scores (from which he survived) November 11, 1965: United Airlines Flight 227, a Boeing 727, is arriving at Salt Lake City Airport, Utah. There are 91 people aboard. On a high visual approach, the aircraft descended at ~2,300 ft/min (roughly triple the recommended rate). The captain failed to arrest the sink rate in time. The first officer tried to add power, but the captain told him no and literally brushed his hands off the thrust levers. In the last seconds the Captain took over, but it was too late. The jet struck the ground 335 ft short of the runway, impacting with a vertical acceleration of 4.7 g. The main gear collapsed, fuel lines ruptured, and a post-impact fire erupted. In the ensuing conflagration, more than half of the people aboard (43) perished. The accident was attributed entirely to the poor judgment of Captain Gale C. Kehmeier, who began the final approach from an altitude and distance that left insufficient room to descend at a normal, safe rate. The investigators found that the Captain had a troubled training record. He had failed his initial jet-transition course and was reassigned to fly the DC-6 propliner. Later, he also failed a routine annual instrument-proficiency check. Video is from a KSL News Utah feature remembering the occurrence. (Full 12 min video is on Youtube)

Seaplane incident today in Maldives. No one was hurt. First reports state it was about to deport from Malé-Velana when one of its floats broke-off. Aircraft was a DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Trans Maldivian Airlines [Registration “8Q-TAL”] @aero_in