Skydiving plane crash Lake Taupo

[Dave Homewood]

I'm surprised the newspapers have not yet listed all the countries the jumpers were from. I have only seen one mentioned, he was from Tauranga.

[Dave Homewood]

My understanding of the Caterpillar Club was anyone qualified who used a parachute for emergency escape from an aeroplane. This was that case. But it's moot as the club is defunct anyway.

[ErrolC]

Jan 8, 2015 19:06:56 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'm surprised the newspapers have not yet listed all the countries the jumpers were from. I have only seen one mentioned, he was from Tauranga.

If the police, company, and TAIC aren't saying, then the press won't know? If you don't want to be hounded by reporters, why would you put your hand up?
But yes, normally this bit of likely irrelevant info is in the press.

[isc]

The names of the countries was mentioned on radio(this am I think) can't remember which, I was doing something else at the time.  

They mentioned that no fuel has leaked out,? did someone forget to put it in .   isc

[ErrolC]

www.stuff.co.nz/national/64782051/taupo-plane-crash-joke-turns-real

Waikato Times report, including interview with Aussie customer, and quotes from TAIC.

[kwieldraayer]

Jan 7, 2015 17:32:48 GMT 12 bounce said:

Didn't someone say that NZ accidents seem to come in threes? Well I never...

yes It hasnr been proven wrong since i was too about it

[ErrolC]

Herald headline: "Skydive miracle: 'No panic' when plane's engine died"
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11383803

Tour company Stray Operations manager Jimmy Brown:

"They told me that there was an unknown issue with the engine of the aircraft; once that became clear the pilot executed their emergency procedure instantly, which they have no doubt made all the difference.

"They did say there was no luck involved, it was all thanks to the skill and preparedness of the company. They were singing their praises to how well they dealt with it."

The pilot made sure everybody was off the plane before he exited the aircraft himself, Mr Brown was told. "They were all extremely grateful for the pilot. They did say it was very apparent these guys knew exactly what to do and there was no hesitation whatsoever."

[Dave Homewood]

After seeing the wreckage in the hangar on 3 news, I think it is fair to say that it's pretty stuffed now! Thank goodness they got to a decent altitude before the event that stopped the engine. Anyone inside the plane would surely have been killed.

[johnnyfalcon]

Jan 9, 2015 17:22:07 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

After seeing the wreckage in the hangar on 3 news, I think it is fair to say that it's pretty stuffed now! Thank goodness they got to a decent altitude before the event that stopped the engine. Anyone inside the plane would surely have been killed.

Bear in mind Dave that the aircraft was pilotless and out of control when it hit the water. Plunging even... If the pilot had remained 'in command', even with pax on board, it likely would have been a controlled ditching, not unlike the recent Raglan incident. Quite a different result.

[oj]

Reports of a "stopped" propeller and "bang" suggest to me that we have a reduction gearbox failure of some type. Sudden seizure of the gas turbine itself would be extremely unlikely.

[lumpy]

Jan 9, 2015 17:36:46 GMT 12 johnnyfalcon said:

Jan 9, 2015 17:22:07 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

After seeing the wreckage in the hangar on 3 news, I think it is fair to say that it's pretty stuffed now! Thank goodness they got to a decent altitude before the event that stopped the engine. Anyone inside the plane would surely have been killed.

Bear in mind Dave that the aircraft was pilotless and out of control when it hit the water. Plunging even... If the pilot had remained 'in command', even with pax on board, it likely would have been a controlled ditching, not unlike the recent Raglan incident. Quite a different result.

A bit like this ( also a " jump " plane , where the jumpers left , but the pilot chose not to )

[ErrolC]

Some good detail from one of the instructors:
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11384136

The ascent had started normally, Mr Dyson said, until he heard what he described as "a loud bang" at 2500ft, or 762m.

That was followed by sparks flying past the aircraft's windows and "the worst grinding noise I've ever heard in my life as the propeller stopped".

The aircraft then fell silent, followed by a frantic discussion between the pilot and the six instructors.

"Then the decision was made that we all needed to exit ... I just heard the big booming 'Get out!' And so we began hooking up our passengers. I was the third group out, there were a couple of guys on my left and I moved past them on the way to the door."
Mr Dyson said he activated his reserve chute on exit and then exchanged his disbelief at the scenario with his Dutch tandem partner.

"Under the parachute [he] was going through the same kind of thing as me - 'Did that just happen?' You need altitude to open your parachute, your main chutes typically take longer to open than your reserve, which is why we all went straight to reserve - altitude was in short supply in this situation."

They then landed on a beach at Waitahanui, on the shore of Lake Taupo, next to another pair who had escaped the failed aircraft, he said.

And from TAIC:

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said it had successfully recovered the wreckage of the aircraft from the lake this evening.

Contracted salvage divers were due to finish collecting small pieces of debris from the wreckage today, TAIC spokesman Peter Northcote said.

A helicopter lifted out three large pieces of wreckage and flew them to shore today, while a barge was used to lift the engine from the water along with bags of smaller pieces of wreckage.

The salvage mission was completed without any visible evidence of environmental contamination, Mr Northcote said.

...

An initial examination of the wreckage and engine took place in Taupo this afternoon in conjunction with a representative from the engine's manufacturer, Mr Northcote said.

The wreckage would remain secured in Taupo until the engine was returned under seal to its manufacturer in Canada.

There it would be stripped down and examined under the supervision of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

The engine data recorder had also been recovered. However, it would remain unknown whether any useful information survived the accident until it was examined by Australian Transport Safety Bureau's laboratory.

The commission's inquiry was focused on establishing what went wrong and how to reduce the chance of a recurrence, Mr Northcote said.

[The Red Baron]

It will be 18 months before the public will know what caused a Skydive Taupo plane to crash.

I'd love to know why it takes a year and a half to do a report.Obvious engine failure,should be all wrapped up by the end of next week.
Do investigators charge by the hour?.

[bounce]

Remember that they're not just poking around the wreckage then putting out a media release about what failed. They need to find out why, so handling techniques, maintenance, and manufacturing considerations. This is I believe the first 115 accident investigation from TAIC so emergency training, procedures, and response will likely be considered. The manufacturer, CAA, and operator will likely have input at a later date, as will the lawyers and senior management at the commission.

Add to that the team have to write the novel itself. Remembering they're a pretty small team with a half dozen other investigations ongoing.

Ultimately if there's immediate concern about the safety of the engine or aircraft type, the operator, or others involved then relevant agencies can be notified to allow action. We might be in a hurry to read it, but rushed, inaccurate, or poor quality reports can be pretty embarrassing for everyone. Refer ATSB's work on the Whyalla PA-31 or the Norfolk Westwind ditching.

[davel]

Be interesting to see if it was really that catastrophic that it warranted the pilot bailing out. Presents a pretty high 3rd party risk leaving it flying with no one at the controls. Lucky it came down in the lake and missed anyone in a boat. I would have thought you would only bail out if the aircraft was completely uncontrollable.

[nosig]

Jan 8, 2015 19:06:56 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'm surprised the newspapers have not yet listed all the countries the jumpers were from. I have only seen one mentioned, he was from Tauranga.

Joe Dyson's the son of an old acquaintance of mine. He's been an instructor for a few years AFAIK

[bounce]

Its certainly interesting to ponder.

I haven't flown a 750, but would have thought that empty (jumpers gone) and with min fuel it would perform pretty well. The decision to ride it out vs to jump probably had to be made pretty quickly, with a nice view of the lake, low time on type etc all influencing the process. Possibly an experienced jump pilot would have turned back, possibly other factors made that impossible (prop issue, conditions etc). If only that TAIC report was finished quicker so we could find out...

[The Red Baron]

Pilot was on first day of flying solo....Stuff headline

Yikes...my first solo day was a circuit in a Victa....nowdays they get to do it an XL750 full of jumpers?...

to ride it out vs to jump

Fan has stopped,flames coming out of it,your pointing at the middle of Lake Taupo(not forgetting Lake Taupo is very deep and very cold (like hypothermia cold) even in summer,the plane is insured,your wearing a parachute....I know which choice I'd make..

[bounce]

Indeed. Easy to armchair quarterback it.

[johnnyfalcon]

Jan 10, 2015 9:36:38 GMT 12 davel said:

Be interesting to see if it was really that catastrophic that it warranted the pilot bailing out. Presents a pretty high 3rd party risk leaving it flying with no one at the controls. Lucky it came down in the lake and missed anyone in a boat. I would have thought you would only bail out if the aircraft was completely uncontrollable.

I thought the same thing. An uncontrolled aircraft at around 2000' over holidaymakers at one of the busiest holiday areas during the busiest time of the year... One of the parachutists described the aircraft curving around towards them as they descended under canopy