Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Plane Flies For Two Hours With [half] Wing Missing (with pic)
Western Daily Press [Ireland] ^ | 8/19/2005 | unknown

Posted on 08/19/2005 2:36:22 PM PDT by sionnsar

A Dozy pilot flew his plane for two hours before he noticed that five-and-a-half feet of one wing had been torn off by a tree on take-off. The Irish pilot told investigators he thought he had been "struck by a little bird" on takeoff in his five-seater Cessna 210.

But despite two of the three passengers being top flight engineers on their way to fix a Boeing 767, no one noticed that half the left wing, containing one fuel tank, was missing. The unnamed pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at Jersey International Airport two hours later after he finally spotted the fuel gauge plummeting towards empty.

The drama unfolded as the Cessna took off from Brittas House Airstrip, 18 miles east of Shannon in Ireland last Friday.

As the small aircraft - bound for Lisbon in Portugal - left the runway it collided with treetops which ripped off a 5ft 7ins section of the left wing. The fuel tank was later found on the ground - back in Ireland.

Jersey International Airport was alerted and air traffic controllers guided the damaged plane to safety.

A spokesman for the airport said: "We were amazed it had managed to fly as long as it had, it was in a real state when it came in.

"The pilot was the most shocked of us all as he had not realised the extent of the damage while he was flying."



TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-143 next last
To: SAMWolf
She landed this one without any hydralics...
61 posted on 08/19/2005 4:00:31 PM PDT by null and void (Be vewwy vewwy qwiet, we're hunting wahabbits...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

He didn't notice it was handling a little funny?


62 posted on 08/19/2005 4:01:27 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bogey78O
No one looked out the window?

You would have to look out and up. Most people look out and down. And I'm normally white-knuckled with my eyes squeezed shut.

63 posted on 08/19/2005 4:02:27 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar
Your post id misleading...

Does not look like quite half. Looks like about an 1/8th...

64 posted on 08/19/2005 4:07:27 PM PDT by sit-rep (If you acquire, hit it again just to make sure...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar
As long as you have lift you got it made.

Looks like a Cessna............good plane! I flew one before I lost my license to high blood pressure.

65 posted on 08/19/2005 4:07:50 PM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dighton

There was a little man on the wing tearing into the engine...


66 posted on 08/19/2005 4:09:41 PM PDT by Axenolith (Got Au? Ag?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar
Wings... You need those!...
67 posted on 08/19/2005 4:11:13 PM PDT by Axenolith (Got Au? Ag?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan(9698)
Okay, I guess we're just not connecting. I am suggesting the trim tab will not be able to provide enough force to overcome the excess drag/assymetric lift favoring the left hand side. The tab can only move so much before you have to start giving rudder input.

Plus, my original comment was kind of tongue in cheek.

68 posted on 08/19/2005 4:13:43 PM PDT by hattend (Alaska....in a time warp all it's own!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Dr._Joseph_Warren

When I was in civilian flight training they taught us how to fly the aircraft "by the tail". It's scary but it works like a charm. A good pilot can take his aircraft in with a lot more damage than this.


69 posted on 08/19/2005 4:14:01 PM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Arthalion

That test pilot was Tex Johnson.


70 posted on 08/19/2005 4:17:48 PM PDT by cynicom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: SunnySide

It seems to me that everytime I read about some horrendous or really stupid car accident, the local paper ends the story with the laconic "alcohol may have been involved". I thought it very appropriate here


71 posted on 08/19/2005 4:24:12 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Chode

It's a CG image of a Boeing (formerly McD) "Blended Wing Body" transport. Do a search on BWB, you'll find a lot.

I believe this particular image was done for a magazine... pop Sci or Sci Am or some such.


72 posted on 08/19/2005 4:26:58 PM PDT by orionblamblam ("You're the poster boy for what ID would turn out if it were taught in our schools." VadeRetro)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Alcohol may have been a factor.
73 posted on 08/19/2005 4:29:42 PM PDT by Echo Talon (http://echotalon.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dighton

Loose cowling cover a top-flight mechanic didn't close


74 posted on 08/19/2005 4:31:32 PM PDT by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: hattend
I am suggesting the trim tab will not be able to provide enough force to overcome the excess drag/assymetric lift favoring the left hand side. The tab can only move so much before you have to start giving rudder input.

The trim on a C210 has a lot of range. It requires a lot of right rudder to overcome the P factor when you start the takeoff roll.

It has a takeoff power of 310 HP and that causes a lot of left turn tendancy. It is not like a 152, a 172 or other lower powered aircraft.

Transitioning from a 172 to a 210 was almost like learning to fly again.

75 posted on 08/19/2005 4:32:14 PM PDT by Dan(9698)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc
"A good pilot can take his aircraft in with a lot more damage than this"

Yes he can. That is well documented above.

The point I think is that neither he nor his esteemed colleag's noticed

I Thought I hit a bird?

Sorry but thats pretty lame.

BTW I was always admonished for rudder flying.

"you like flying sideways doncha jack?" LOL

76 posted on 08/19/2005 4:34:28 PM PDT by pandemoniumreigns
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Dr._Joseph_Warren
big deal... everyone knows an F-15 doesn't actually NEED wings to fly as long as the two engines are working...
77 posted on 08/19/2005 4:47:40 PM PDT by chilepepper (The map is not the territory -- Alfred Korzybski)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: pandemoniumreigns
BTW I was always admonished for rudder flying.

I used to fly with rudder only a lot of the time. If the aelorons were trimmed, it required very light rudder to keep the wings level and it left both hands free to unfold maps, work the circular slide rule and other things that took two hands.

It also made it so that you instinctively used rudder along with the wheel when flying with your left hand.

78 posted on 08/19/2005 4:50:08 PM PDT by Dan(9698)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

amazing what a few beers will do......


79 posted on 08/19/2005 4:50:53 PM PDT by thinking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: orionblamblam

thankxlot...


80 posted on 08/19/2005 4:54:19 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 141-143 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson