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Bonanza down KHKY

Bob_Belville
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Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

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Those of you who attended our Foothills Regional Fly In in November will remember Brandon NeSmith the head of Table Rock Aviation who conducted our Emergency Procedures Workshop. http://tablerockaviation.com/

 

Brandon was right seat tonight in a V35B, 4 on board, taking off from KHKY. The engine quit @ ~300'. They had to put it down in woods off the end of the runway. Last report is that while all 4 were hospitalized none have life threatening injuries.

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/four-hurt-in-plane-crash/article_7975d21e-95f4-11e4-ae6b-d3804f7f2589.html?mode=image&photo=1

 

Prayers for our friends will be appreciated.

 

Hank Grand Master

Hank

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That's awful, Bob! At least they're all alive, and no life-threatening injuries is a good thing.

 

The photos show significant structural damage, including the left wing torn off against a tree, but I can't tell how much cockpit damage was done by the fire dept. getting everybody out.

 

Thoughts and prayers for sure!

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Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

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Yes, the left wing struck a large tree and the plane was wrenched around it to the left. I'm sure a lot of energy was absorbed. Brandon is a very talented pilot. Of course we don't know much about any choices they had but obviously they did not do a fatal stall/spin trying to get back on the airport.

fantom Grand Master

fantom

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They are all in our prayers. Loss of power at night and putting it down in the woods without any loss of life is quite commendable.

Stay competent and always have a plan, my friends.

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

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They are all in our prayers. Loss of power at night and putting it down in the woods without any loss of life is quite commendable.

Stay competent and always have a plan, my friends.

It was still daylight here when they took off but I do not know if they got to pick which tree they hit. I hope to learn a little more today. Unlike many cases where the witnesses are non-pilots. in this case we have a high skilled CFII with lots of experience in many type of aircraft.     

duke Enthusiast

duke

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an older bussh pilot friend told me if you have to put down in trees, aim between two fair sized ones if you can and let the wings take the impact and if they shear off the fusalage is signifigantly slowed down and unless you hit another dead on, chances of survival are increased

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FloridaMan Grand Master

FloridaMan

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an older bussh pilot friend told me if you have to put down in trees, aim between two fair sized ones if you can and let the wings take the impact and if they shear off the fusalage is signifigantly slowed down and unless you hit another dead on, chances of survival are increased

 

I don't really know if we would get the type of luxury of going slow enough to pick the trees in the woods. Maybe if you're going to overshoot a clearing this might work. At 300 ft in a Bonanza, I think it's a crap shoot. I would be curious if he was at Vx or Vy -- reason being that in the time that it takes you to react, you lose a lot of speed and you'll never get it back at that altitude. 

rbridges Grand Master

rbridges

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I don't really know if we would get the type of luxury of going slow enough to pick the trees in the woods. Maybe if you're going to overshoot a clearing this might work. At 300 ft in a Bonanza, I think it's a crap shoot. I would be curious if he was at Vx or Vy -- reason being that in the time that it takes you to react, you lose a lot of speed and you'll never get it back at that altitude. 

 

I'm glad he wasn't one of those people that tried to turn back to the runway.  

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

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From Brandon:

 

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns they were definitely felt. I only have some minor cuts, bruises, and soreness. X-Rays say I have a minor lumbar compression fracture that should heal over time. The other two passengers are ok too and were released from the hospital last night. Through the grace of God, the pilot who I was flying with did a great job making the best out of the worst possible scenario. I just helped him from the right seat as best I could. My friend the pilot is stable with serious injuries and his family will appreciate your prayers for the surgeries he will have over the next couple of days. As soon as I'm off pain meds I hope to be back in the air soon. I may not call/text you all back immediately but I will talk to you all as soon as I can. Thank you again for all your prayers and concerns.

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bonal Grand Master

bonal

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I don't really know if we would get the type of luxury of going slow enough to pick the trees in the woods. Maybe if you're going to overshoot a clearing this might work. At 300 ft in a Bonanza, I think it's a crap shoot. I would be curious if he was at Vx or Vy -- reason being that in the time that it takes you to react, you lose a lot of speed and you'll never get it back at that altitude. 

Likely the main reason Cessna 150s have such a good survival rate cause they stall sooooo sloooow

Piloto Grand Master

Piloto

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This likely would had been a fatal outcome if it was a twin. Not only because of the induced turn by an engine failure but because of the lack of a shield (the front engine on singles) that twins do not have. On a twin you also have two hot engines next to the fuel tanks in the wings ready to ignite twice the amount of fuel you carry on a single. And on a twin you also have twice the probability of an engine failure on take off. The more I look into these accidents the more I am convinced the single is safer. 

 

José  

bonal Grand Master

bonal

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This likely would had been a fatal outcome if it was a twin. Not only because of the induced turn by an engine failure but because of the lack of a shield (the front engine on singles) that twins do not have. On a twin you also have two hot engines next to the fuel tanks in the wings ready to ignite twice the amount of fuel you carry on a single. And on a twin you also have twice the probability of an engine failure on take off. The more I look into this accidents the more I am convinced the single is safer. 

 

José  

and a twin is going a lot faster. on a windy departure I could get my 150 to fly at about 25 miles per hour ground speed Im just glad all will recover.

FloridaMan Grand Master

FloridaMan

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There's a video of a high density altitude crash into the trees from inside the plane. You see full grown trees look like they're exploding from the prop hitting them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  • 3 weeks later...
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

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I found it important that he kicked the right rudder hard to turn the nose away from the tree. I hope I would have been that quick thinking or reacting. I suppose an effort to bank would not have worked and might have been worse.

 

The co-pilot, Brandon NeSmith, did a workshop for our fly-in in November: "Emergency Procedures in your Mooney"!

 

http://tablerockaviation.com/

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