Skymaster Down

[hharney]

N72268 1973G #1550

http://www.highspringsherald.com/art...ws/break01.txt

http://www.gainesville.com/article/2...S/5281017/1002

[edasmus]

Does anyone have any info to pass along on this accident on what may have gone wrong?

Ed

[hharney]

Nothing other than several articles on-line. They indicated that he lost power and contacted ATC and they said that there was an airport not too far from his position. Apparently he could not make the airport and decided to do his best to set it down where he could. Looks like he did a good job for the circumstances. The one photo shows the rear blades are feathered. It would look as though he shut that the rear down first. Not sure other than that.

[edasmus]

Yes Herb, I did notice that on the rear prop as well. I agree that he did a great job safely landing the airplane. Is anyone out there experienced in making a judgement as to whether the front engine was making power at touch down or simply windmilling based on the damage to the front prop? I always find it amazing as to the strength of the hub and blade shanks when I see curled prop blades. One would think that the blades would just get ripped out of the hub on initial impact or the blades would break. It is quite a testament to the design and engineering folks who built these machines.

Ed

[tropical]

Originally Posted by edasmus

Yes Herb, I did notice that on the rear prop as well. I agree that he did a great job safely landing the airplane. Is anyone out there experienced in making a judgement as to whether the front engine was making power at touch down or simply windmilling based on the damage to the front prop? I always find it amazing as to the strength of the hub and blade shanks when I see curled prop blades. One would think that the blades would just get ripped out of the hub on initial impact or the blades would break. It is quite a testament to the design and engineering folks who built these machines.

Ed

It appears it was making power by the twisting of the blades.

[Roger]

A couple of weeks ago I was getting my BFR and the CFII pulled the rear engine, and nothing happened, except that we went a little slower. Of course the book says Full Power on the operating engine, which I did, but that seemed like a waste of fuel and just made a bunch of noise. We are both pretty big guys, and I had just topped off the plane.
Which brings me to the point of this thread : Why if this guy was by himself, with one engine operating, did he put his plane down in a field?

There is something about this accident that doesn't add up.