Qantas Boeing [717] 'wrinkled' in hard landing in Darwin

[serfty]

From Crikey.com

Qantas Boeing 'wrinkled' in hard landing in Darwin

Qantas is in damage control this morning trying to hide a Qantaslink Boeing 717 that was so severely damaged in a hard landing at Darwin last Thursday that it may be a write-off, writes Ben Sandilands.

No reports, no photos, no survivor interviews, indeed no recognition of any sort has appeared in the media for almost four days. No-one was injured in the "incident" that dared not show its face until an inquiry into it was officially listed on the air safety data base today.
...
The air safety investigator says on its website that "On final approach the aircraft entered an area of high sink and made a heavy landing. Wrinkling was later found in the aft fuselage. Damage: Substantial".

...

If the damage leads to a write-off it will be the first time this has happened to any passenger jet of size in Australia.
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Some more here on PPRuNe:

• NAT JET 717 mishap - PPRuNe Forums

 

[oz_mark]

Any indication of which aircraft it was?

 

[serfty]

By the science of omission; it seems that VH-NXE's most recent op was QF1944 GOV-DRW on Thursday. Nothing since.

 

[oz_mark]

The media seem mysteriously quiet if this event occured. Given they normally get in a lather over anything remotely safety related with regards to QF. While NJS are the operator, you'd think that the fact that a red tail with kangaroo on it got bent would have them foaming at the mouth.

 

[simongr]

No passengers in fear for their lives.... not good tv...

 

[NYCguy]

No passengers in fear for their lives.... not good tv...

I'm surprised that the NT News couldn't whip it into some sort of narrowly-avoided major calamity.

They need to send their Editor and a few journos to do some work experience at the Daily Telegraph, so that they can learn to correctly sensationalize a story.

 

[straitman]

From the ATSB Web site.

Aviation Safety Investigation Report - Active

AO-2008-007: Aircraft Control; Darwin, NT; 7 February 2008; The Boeing Company, 717-200, VH-NXE

Occurrence Details
Occurrence Number: 200800641
Location: Darwin
Occurrence Date: 07 February 2008
State: NT
Occurrence Time: 2115 CST
Highest Injury Level: None
Occurrence Category: Accident Investigation
Type: Occurrence Investigation
Occurrence Class: Operational
Investigation Status: Active
Occurrence Type: Aircraft Control Release Date:

Aircraft Details
Aircraft Manufacturer:Boeing CoAircraft Model:717-200
Aircraft Registration:VH-NXE
Serial Number:55063
Type of Operation:High Capacity Air Transport
Damage to Aircraft:Substantial
Departure Point:Gove NT
Departure Time:unknown
Destination: Darwin NT

Abstract
On final approach the aircraft entered an area of high sink and made a heavy landing. Wrinkling was later found in the aft fuselage. The investigation is continuing.

 

[Evan]

Wow, even a "heavy" landing would not have created such damage i would have thought unless there was maybe some other issue with the airframe first ? Either that or heavy landing was a massive understatement, but if it had really been that amazingly hard you would think people would have been injured or there would have been people complaining to the news etc.

I guess the investigation may throw up some interesting info about how MD95's/B717's are constructed.

E

 

[stryker]

I guess the investigation may throw up some interesting info about how MD95's/B717's are constructed.

E

Shouldn't be too many surprises there.

There's still a lot of DC9's around.

 

[Mwenenzi]

A little history of this bird
05/09/2000 Impulse Airlines VH-SMH
23/05/2001 Qantaslink VH-VQE
25/05/2004 Jetstar VH-VQE
25/07/2005 National Jet Systems VH-NXE
date manufactured & airline operators before Impulse unknow. May have been new to Impulse

 

[stryker]

A little history of this bird
05/09/2000 Impulse Airlines VH-SMH
23/05/2001 Qantaslink VH-VQE
25/05/2004 Jetstar VH-VQE
25/07/2005 National Jet Systems VH-NXE
date manufactured & airline operators before Impulse unknow

I think you'll find it was delivered new, ex Longbeach, to Impulse.

 

[NM]

Seems the landing was not as hard as the BA 777 at LHR.

 

[straitman]

Seems the landing was not as hard as the BA 777 at LHR.

Possibly correct :!:

 

[Mal]

Where do you 'hide' a plane at Darwin Airport?

I'm surprised there are no photos floating around of the plane, and limited information about the incident on various aviation websites.

Did a big freighter turn up in the last few days with a destination somewhere is Asia? I've heard there are good plane repair shops over there that some airlines have good experience with...

 

[NM]

Possibly correct :!:

As the saying goes:
"A good landing is one where everyone walks away. A great landing is one where the aircraft can be used again".

In some cases, the difference between a good landing and a great landing is a matter of time (such as with VH-OJH ).

 

[straitman]

Where do you 'hide' a plane at Darwin Airport?

I'm surprised there are no photos floating around of the plane, and limited information about the incident on various aviation websites.

Did a big freighter turn up in the last few days with a destination somewhere is Asia? I've heard there are good plane repair shops over there that some airlines have good experience with...

If it has wrinkles and that's all it probably wouldn't be obvious to the average 'Joe Blow' so just park it over the side and say it's awaiting maintenance.

(.... a lot of maintenance :!

 

[serfty]

Wow, even a "heavy" landing would not have created such damage i would have thought unless there was maybe some other issue with the airframe first ? ...

Well, I guess with the engines attached near the rear there would be a greater force on the fuselage with a heavy landing than a similar sized aircraft employing wing mounted engines.

 

[serfty]

Where do you 'hide' a plane at Darwin Airport? ...

ISTR, being quasi military, there are some pretty large aircraft hangars at DRW.

Google Maps

Hmmm ... In the Satellite iamge, it looks like there's a 717 at one of the gates. Going by size, it could easily be parked indoors.

 

[Evan]

Well, I guess with the engines attached near the rear there would be a greater force on the fuselage with a heavy landing than a similar sized aircraft employing wing mounted engines.

Good point. i would imagine that would impact significantly the bending moments expereinced by the airframe.

As far as i know the 6 x B717's were all delivered to Impulse new.

E

 

[Mal]

The media has started to pick up on the incident now.

Eg:

ATSB investigating Qantas incident - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Should be some interesting articles in the various rags by tomorrow.