RAAF PC9 Crash

[serfty]

Yeh, I know that...I'm trying to work out if I know him.

Plus, I deny any knowledge of helos.....

:clue: SXC is his nearest airport of any significance ...

... I'm sure there was a Winjeel or three in his past ...

 

[Sifor]

I've been flicking through US NATOPS for the F-18F model and the safe ejection envelope appears to be quite small as the crew need to get it right otherwise, as you say, they will be cut up. For example, the JHMCS helmet changes a lot:

The JHMCS configuration can contribute to increased neck loads during
ejection, particularly at moderate to high speeds. Generally, neck loads
increase as ejection airspeed increases and may cause severe or fatal
injury. Aircrews should eject at the lowest possible airspeed to minimize
neck and injury loads.

And the general ejection sequence operation:

1. Press head firmly against headrest.
2. Elevate chin slightly (10°).
3. Press shoulders and back firmly against seat.
4. Hold elbows and arms firmly towards sides.
5. Press buttocks firmly against the seat back.
6. Place thighs flat against seat.
7. Press outside of thighs against side of seat.
8. Place heels firmly on deck, toes on rudder pedals.

 

[straitman]

You make it sound so simple What happens if you're weaving through a valley at high speed, suffer an uncontained engine failure disabling the FCS making it impossible to gain altitude.

It is simple as jb747 says. Wings level and speed to height are always the first option. From what ever that gets you, then do what ever you can.

Given the obvious difference in flight envelope of a PC9 and Rhino, I'd rather have an engine failure and bail out at 200kts than 550kts.....

As you say, ejecting at high speed is survivable but as jb747 says it is not as survivable as at low speed and most certainly is only used as a last resort. Early in the Mirage days a test pilot ejected from A3-1 near Avalon at about 750 knots. He survived but with multiple injuries. See RAAF Mirages.

A lesson they would never forget in the context of the PC9's principle role being a trainer - I assumed the crew were student and instructor. A comment made prior to seeing the photo.

As jb747 states it would normally be an instructor and a trainee instructor unless someone like me has sponged a ride.

You may as well ask, "what happens if the wing falls off"? It's always possible to make any problem hard enough for it to be beyond handling. If the FCS instantly fails, you're most likely a mark on the treeline. Otherwise, ROLL, PULL, is in every fast jet pilot's instant reaction list.....

This did happen to a friend and former student of mine flying a Macchi and sure enough it was not survivable.

Speed to height sounds simple. It is simple. And it is the solution that every knuck in the world will try to achieve. Eject at as slow as speed, and as high, as possible.

This is drummed into you before you ever get to fly your first flight. It is equally valid for all single engined aircraft even if the ejection option is not at the end of it.

 

[straitman]

And the general ejection sequence operation

1. Press head firmly against headrest.
2. Elevate chin slightly (10°).
3. Press shoulders and back firmly against seat.
4. Hold elbows and arms firmly towards sides.
5. Press buttocks firmly against the seat back.
6. Place thighs flat against seat.
7. Press outside of thighs against side of seat.
8. Place heels firmly on deck, toes on rudder pedals.

This is also drummed into you before you ever fly a ejection seat a/c as if you ever need to do it in anger you may only have an instant to do all of the above. :shock:

 

[straitman]

What did straightman fly? A Wessex?

Heaven forbid NO, they were Navy and they were dangerous :!:

:clue: SXC is his nearest airport of any significance ...

... I'm sure there was a Winjeel or three in his past ...

Only 14hrs and 40 min on Winjeels (plus a few staff rides) but lots of hours on Bell 204/205/212/412, Sikorsky 76, CT4, Macchi and a few miscellaneous others.

 

[jb747]

This is also drummed into you before you ever fly a ejection seat a/c as if you ever need to do it in anger you may only have an instant to do all of the above. :shock:

My course-mate forgot #8, but then that was forgiveable in the circumstances. The result was that his thighs were elevated about 2 inches above the seat (he was tall), and in that 2 inches, the seat was able to gather enough speed that it broke both of his legs just above the knees when it got to them. Can't imagine what the landing was like. He flew again, after being off course for about 6 months. It had a very sad ending though, as he was killed in a car accident, about a week prior to graduation.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'd not heard of that club before, so had to go and look it up.

Not exactly a club I'd ever willingly want to join.

No sir....iwouldhave to agree with that!!


Members earn their accolades

 

[jb747]

There are a few 'clubs' like that in aviation. You'd never set out to be a member, but if that's how it works out....