Posted on 07/28/2008 9:30:42 AM PDT by pabianice
The P-3C that almost went into Puget Sound waters a few days ago was from NAS Whidbey. It was a CPW-10 aircraft being operated by VP-1. Squadrons don't own aircraft any more. The P-3 fleet has so deteriorated because of under-funding and over-use that there are less than 100 still flyable*. The P-3s belong to the wing and are "lent to the squadrons on an as-needed" basis.
The mission was a NATOPS pilot check, with a CPW-10 pilot (LT) aboard, a VP-1 LT and LTJG, plus VP-1 aircrewmen that included two flight engineers. The word is that the crew finally recovered control of the aircraft about 100 feet above MSL by pulling 7 Gs. The bird was landed back at NASW. Max damage was sustained by the aircraft, including almost tearing off a wing. Aircraft BuNo 161331.
My first thought is that this was a Vmc incident:
At Whidbey, P-3C 161331 was doing a Functional Check Flight. They shut down #1 engine. With #1 off, #2 engine exhibited vibrations and was shutdown. With two engines off on the same side the aircraft stalled. 7 G's were reported to pull it out of the stall. 45 consecutive rivets were pulled out on the stbd wing during the 7 G pull out (rolling pull), after peaking at negative 2.4g's as well. They did five spin rotations from 5500 ft -- they bottomed out "between 50 and 200 ft." They could see the inside of the fuel tanks when they landed. They were at 160 KIAS, appr flaps during a prop fails to feather drill on #1 when #2 started surging. They bagged #2, but while doing so got to 122 KIAS. When they added power, they were way below VMC air, and departed. SDRS recorded the flaps being raised and the landing gear being cycled down and then back up. Aircraft released all the fuel in tank #3 when it appears that the seam between planks 3 and 4 split. Tank #4 also lost its fuel load when plank #1 separated from rest of the aircraft wing.
* The P-8 is supposed to begin replacing the P-3C in 2012. There are supposed to be 108 P-8s in total. Very unlikely to happen.
And that, kids, is why they fly these P-3s into hurricanes. Because they are freaking aerial tanks.
That having been said, I wonder if it’ll ever fly again after having 7 G put on the airframe.
}:-)4
Yikes!
WOW! I wonder if they had to change their shorts upon landing...
I hope the flight crew was in church yesterday.
I’m also guessing their flight suits met an early retirement.
Hey.
They couldn’t change their shorts until the mechanics pried the seat cushions out of their asses first. That’s just...wow. Literally, they were all about a second or two from dying.
}:-)4
Major failures there.
I thought they weren’t flying the P3 any more.
Old pilot joke:
You know what the props are for?
To keep the pilot cool.
If the props stop turning, watch the pilot sweat a lot.
Wow! Some amazing flying to get that bird down safely. That is one amazing aircraft for sure. But I bet some old B-17 pilots could tell some stories about bringing the bird home with half a wing the tail half gone and the aircraft leaking fuel, oil and assorted other things. God bless them all.
I think they’ll scrap it, Moose.
Yep, I’ll bet the crew had to rinse a few things out after that....
BUMP!
"Airwar" by Jablonski is a good read, as well. Just not only about the B-17s.
And you're right, some of the pictures of the airplanes that made it back, are pretty remarkable. That bird was built to fly.
Unfortunately, some aircrew feel some pressure to complete functionals. One needs to remember that once something fails a functional step that the jet is going to need another complete functional to be released anyway.
2 engines out, hit 7Gs and recovered at 100 feet. Amazing
“And that, kids, is why they fly these P-3s into hurricanes...”
Not sure, but if you’re referring to the Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler AFB, they fly C-130’s.
My Dad flew an Army P-2 in Vietnam. His plane is the one at Ft. Rucker Army Aviation museum.
As a former P-3 aircrewman, kudos to the flight station crew. Any landing that the crew can walk away from is a good landing at this was a GREAT landing.
Given the age and wear the Charlies have taken, I’m surprised there aren’t more of these types of incidents. Thank God they were able to land safely!! I hate to read about the loss of shipmates.
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