Wing Damage to QF 743

[Harpoon]

Qantas flight cancelled after wing damage | theage.com.au

Poor old Qantas... soon the newspapers will have a dedicated section for Qantas news.

 

[straitman]

Qantas flight cancelled after wing damage | theage.com.au

Poor old Qantas... soon the newspapers will have a dedicated section for Qantas news.

One has to ask how they ended up in the situation :?:

Was the damage due to tarmac rash, did it break on the previous flight and nobody noticed and how did it get to taxying prior to takeoff and nobody noticed :?:

This type of incident really is becoming a much too regular occurrence :!:

 

[wallacej]

The pilot,along with others, are supposed to do a physical pre flight inspection. How this could not be noticed surprises me

 

[straitman]

I'll be interested to see the ATSB report on this one :!:

Without being seen to prejudge it is a difficult one to explain away.

 

[drron]

Qantas flight cancelled after wing damage | theage.com.au

Poor old Qantas... soon the newspapers will have a dedicated section for Qantas news.

Seems as though they do have a reporter assigned to QF-
Qantas, Jetstar fly in the face of curfew - Travel - smh.com.au

 

[oz_mark]

Some pics here
http://www.theaussieaviator.net/showthread.php?t=23721

I can oly proffer
1) Something hit it, or
2) Failure of some sort when it was deployed.

 

[Harpoon]

Some pics here
http://www.theaussieaviator.net/showthread.php?t=23721

I can oly proffer
1) Something hit it, or
2) Failure of some sort when it was deployed.

If I had to guess, looks like a failure when the pilot extended it during taxi. There's no way it would have been like that at the gate and nobody noticed.

 

[oz_mark]

If I had to guess, looks like a failure when the pilot extended it during taxi. There's no way it would have been like that at the gate and nobody noticed.

Certainly, I see this as the most likely explanation. The only way they could have missed it at the gate is if the damage was hidden and became visible after being extended. Although I would guess something jammed during the process of being extended.

 

[Evan]

The pilot,along with others, are supposed to do a physical pre flight inspection. How this could not be noticed surprises me

Yes the do a walk around, but wont the pilots be firmly strapped into there seats when the last catering trucks etc pull away ? and thes are the sort of things that can damage aircraft.

Not very relevent in this case because knowing the little i do and seeing the photos posted it looks a lot like for some reason one of the actuators stuck firm and the other one just kept pushing. Which would be more or less a maintinance issue (But as stated, know nothing, just speculation)

E

 

[wallacej]

Yes the do a walk around, but wont the pilots be firmly strapped into there seats when the last catering trucks etc pull away ? and thes are the sort of things that can damage aircraft.

Not very relevent in this case because knowing the little i do and seeing the photos posted it looks a lot like for some reason one of the actuators stuck firm and the other one just kept pushing. Which would be more or less a maintinance issue (But as stated, know nothing, just speculation)

E

Agreed - my comment was prior to posting of the pictures.

 

[Tortuga]

Wonder what effects that panel damage would have when it was inflight/landing

 

[NM]

Wonder what effects that panel damage would have when it was inflight/landing

Having seen the damage to the DHL A300 that took a missile in the wing over Baghdad, I am amazed at how an aircraft can be controlled and land safely with such damage. This 743 damage is minor compared to the DHL A300!

Certainly the airflow over the 743 wing would not be as designed, so it would have an effect on the efficiency of the wing and likely result in buffeting due to the disturbed airflow. I expect the pilots would have known something was wrong pretty early into the flight.

I wonder how many more spare parts can be obtained from EBU before the remaining 743s finally retire?

 

[serfty]

... efore the remaining 743s finally retire?

Given Qantas hope to get no more than 5 further weeks service out of these beasties the point may be moot.

 

[oz_mark]

Given Qantas hope to get no more than 5 further weeks service out of these beasties the point may be moot.

One recently departed our shores, so just three to go now....

 

[codash1099]

One recently departed our shores, so just three to go now....

Given the rate that 747's are being damaged, they may need to hang on to them a bit longer

 

[Evan]

One recently departed our shores, so just three to go now....

Really, what one ? i did not notice. What was its destination, parts or sold as a flying aircraft for some other use, eg freight ?

(I would assume these would be parted and the engines used but you never know, there is still some 743's being re-deployed)
E

 

[NM]

Really, what one ? i did not notice. What was its destination, parts or sold as a flying aircraft for some other use, eg freight ?

I believe VH-EBX departed Australia for the last time on 22nd November. It departed around 7:30pm as QF6020 to HNL. It should now be sitting in the Arizona desert at Marana.

I believe the one with wing damage is VH-EBW.