Posted on 04/04/2006 2:14:50 PM PDT by Dashing Dasher
COUSHATTA, La. The pilot of an aerobatics plane had to parachute to safety in Red River Parish this morning after the plane developed mechanical problems. Authorities say Sean Tucker had to ditch the plane after the aircraft's control stick broke.
Deputies say Tucker landed safely -- despite getting tangled briefly on part of the plane after getting out of the cockpit.
The single-engine stunt plane crashed in a field near the Red River-Natchitoches Parish line. Red River Parish Sheriff Johnny Ray Norman says Tucker was in town to visit friends while on his way to a weekend air show in Florida.
The plane's control stick broke shortly after takeoff from Red River Regional Airport, Norman said, but Tucker managed to get the plane away from any houses before bailing out.
Norman says Tucker initially got hung on a back part of the plane but managed to extricate himself and parachute to the ground.
The single-passenger, propeller plane crashed about a mile from the airport and was destroyed.
(KTBS-TV, Shreveport)
Initial Report, 04.04.06, 1251 EDT: Details are somewhat sketchy for the moment, but ANN has confirmed that Aerobatic Pilot Sean D. Tucker had to bail out of his 'Oracle Challenger' biplane today.
The aircraft was being used in a practice session when a control malfunction occurred requiring some 15 minutes of trouble-shooting before Sean was forced to leave the aircraft at a reported 8000 feet.
The aircraft went down over Coushatta, some 40 nm South of Shreveport, Louisiana and impacted in an open field after Sean deliberately chose an area likely to produce no hazards to anyone. The accident occurred at 1045 local time, the aircraft is pretty much destroyed, and most important of all -- Sean landed with no injuries.
While Sean was scheduled to perform in Lakeland this weekend, there is no word on the future status of his airshow schedule.
Another new member of the Caterpiller Club.
Thanks.
I just heard that my friend was on site - waiting to hear back from him. Also, heard from my Rigger - who also rigged Sean's Chute.
I told him I owed him a kiss for saving Sean's Butt!
He's already done it once before, I believe.
The best.
Thank God he's ok! :)
Some Red River Parish residents got a private air show of a different kind from a world renowned stunt pilot around 10:30 Tuesday morning. Sheriff Johnny Norman says, "we saw the plane up and circling, and we saw when he bailed out and it came down".
The Challenger Aerobatic Bi-Plane came down in a cotton field on Michael Simposon's I-hope Ranch in Lake End. Simpson says, "I just saw the dust when the plane hit...and a few miles away I saw him parachute down".
The world famous stunt pilot, Sean Tucker, flew out of the Red River Parish Airport to practice his routine for a weekend air show. Tuckers spokesperson, Karl Koeppen says Tucker noticed a mechanical failure shortly after take-off, and just a short time before his 8,500 foot jump. Koeppen says "it took Tucker 15 minutes to assess, when he realized it was unsafe to land, he flew until it was empty, and parachuted down".
Koeppen says, "it's not an everyday thing, but they train for it repeatedly". And the training paid off. Now all that's left are the bits and pieces. Norman says, "we have to get it out of this guy's plowed field. Obviously we can't put it back together you know".
Sheriff Johnny Norman says the Federal Aviation Administration will not investigate this crash because there were no injuries and no property damage.
"Oracle" has been "building" him a new airplane for a few years now.
Yes, he climbed to gain altitude - and to burn fuel. When he was just about ot run out of fuel - he bailed.
He was actually on the radio to his ground crew and they were on the phone with the local sheriff to ask where was a good place to put the aircraft down.
That's amazing.
From Press Release...
Airshow legend Sean D. Tucker was forced on Tuesday to bail out of his highly modified 400-horsepower Pitts S-2S biplane, the Team Oracle Challenger, while practicing his routine near The Red River Airport at Coushatta, Louisiana, 38 nm southeast of Shreveport where waivered aerobatic airspace is available. Tucker was pulling on his control stick when he felt something give and went to his trim lever as a backup control. Using the trim adjustment control, he was able to put the aircraft in a climb while he evaluated the problem. The local sheriff and judge raced to the scene, closed down a road, and directed him to the I Hope Plantation farm when a bailout became inevitable. Tucker later said he felt, with an additional hour of fuel to evaluate the problem, he could have safely landed the aircraft. Tucker ducked his head and pulled release pins holding the canopy, but was still hit twice on his helmet by the canopy as it exited. After a brief tussle with a shoulder strap, Tucker jumped free and was careful to push himself away from the tail as it passed. Previous reports that he was hung up on the tail are incorrect. He landed uninjured and asked the sheriff to take him to the wreckage, and found that a torque-tube linkage controlling the main elevator had failed. Tucker expects it will take a month or two to re-engine a backup biplane and return to the airshow circuit. Meanwhile, he will continue to give upset demonstrations at Sun 'n Fun this week and throughout the airshow season in his new mount, a Columbia 400SL.
He must have changed his pants before he took that picture!!
Tucker Gives Harrowing, Heartfelt Account Of Bailout
Fri, 07 Apr '06
"I'm Thinking, 'Maybe I Can Still Fly It"
Less than 48 hours after he was forced to bail out of his beloved Oracle Challenger aerobatic biplane in the skies over western Louisiana, Sean Tucker was in the media room at Sun 'N Fun, recounting the event for the reporters gathered.
An obviously relieved -- and still slightly adrenalized -- Tucker described the events leading to the bailout Tuesday morning.
"The wings were flying, and the aircraft was going like this," Tucker said, his hands displaying a steep climb attitude the Challenger took moments after the incident occurred. "Then it's getting ready to stall, then I push it down... soon I'm over 1,000 feet, and that's a pretty good feeling. I've got some time."
Tucker had lost all pitch authority over the Oracle Challenger through the control stick. Using trim, he was eventually able to put the aircraft into a stabilized climb... during which time he explored his options.
"I'm thinking, 'maybe I can fly it," Tucker said. "I was trying to figure out how to fly the airplane, because this airplane was absolutely the most magical piece of equipment I'd ever gotten to fly in my life."
"But every time I got it to about 100 miles per hour, it just kind of wants to stall," Tucker continued, as he seemed to fight back tears. "The trim just couldn't keep up."
Listen To Today's ANN Special Feature -- Sean Tucker's Tale, In His Own Words
Tucker had an almost excruciatingly long amount of time -- 25 minutes, he estimates -- to consider his options. His ground crew guided him away from areas populated with people and obstructions, and was able to close down a major highway as a possible landing site.
It was clear to Tucker, though, that landing wasn't an option... and he prepared to bail out.
"I was able to get her to descend slowly, and that's when you start thinking about a lot of stuff... like "I could die from this," Tucker said. "Before then, it's all instinct."
Tucker gave his ground crew a message to relay to his wife and kids -- just in case -- and he also had to confront the fact he was about to lose his airplane.
"And I still don't want to get rid of my lady," said Tucker of his beloved airplane. "She was such a fine piece of equipment."
Following the emergency checklist ("I distinctly remember, 'turn off the mags in an emergency!'" Tucker laughed) time seemed to slow down for Tucker. "I wanted the dream to end," he said. "I was waiting for God to come along and say "I fooled you!"
Tucker ejected the canopy -- which hit his head, thankfully protected by a helmet -- and prepared to bail out.
"When I left the plane, the only mistake I made was the left shoulder harness was still dragging on my shoulder, which kind of tripped me," Tucker said. "So when I left the plane, and I kind of rolled [to the left] and got stuck on some flying wires underneath on the tail."
"The interesting thing," Tucker said, his voice quieting, "because I was going the same speed as the plane, we were totally together... and it just took one hand, it wasn't a big deal, I just kind of pushed it like that... and she said 'okay,' and she pushed off to the right."
And that was it. As Tucker pulled the ripcord on his parachute, the Oracle Challenger rolled back to the left, and fell. He didn't see the plane impact the ground... which was probably just as well.
Tucker was able to make a safe, controlled parachute landing ("unfortunately, I didn't stand it up -- I slid") in a field.
"First I just really want to go home," Tucker said about his future plans, before adding he would stay through the week at Sun 'N Fun as part of his Columbia 400 safety tour. He hopes to continue this show season with his backup airplane, while the team looks to build a new primary aircraft.
Tucker believes a rod end bearing connecting a modified torque tube linkage on the aircraft's new tail failed.
Thank you for posting that.
Sean really is something else.
There was a problem with the page and the link – now it works again. But –it’s slow to load.
Be patient – worth the trip.
Don’t forget to turn off your mags!
LOL!!!
;-)
www.avweb.com/sponsors/snf/2006/videos/seantucker1.mpg
www.avweb.com/sponsors/snf/2006/videos/seantucker2.mpg
Having problems posting links.
Your ping scared me, I thought another person had gone down.
Glad to see it's the same thread, just additional info.
Sorry - the videos are pretty funny - he's so mellow and talks about the egression like it's pretty normal.
I thought you'd get a kick out of it.
I thought you'd get a kick out of it.
Oh, no...no problem. It was a misunderstanding by me. I saw the videos yesterday from a link on AAFO. Sean is so cool! LOL!
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