Apologies to all those who aren’t on Facebook and can’t see this, but here is a stunning set of pictures of the recovery of a turbine DC3 from a forced landing. The recovery taking place under what could be said to be less than ideal conditions.
Moggy
By: Newforest - 30th March 2014 at 12:26
And now the movie!
By: D1566 - 17th January 2014 at 07:44
Amateurs … They didn’t repaint the nose section! 🙂
By: Bager1968 - 17th January 2014 at 04:50
Consider the cost of the recovery vs the purchase cost of a replacement aircraft.
As this was owned by a commercial operation that would be the determining factor.
By: Newforest - 16th January 2014 at 15:20
And doesn’t the Antarctic Treaty System call for the removal of all wrecks?
By: David Burke - 16th January 2014 at 13:03
It might well be a case where the insurance was paid out and the aircraft was bought back as salvage for a low figure.
By: ozplane - 16th January 2014 at 12:46
Thanks for the update Moggy. To go in when it was just about flying shows what a tough old bird the DC-3T is. I can’t imagine the PT-6As enjoyed a sudden stop like that although they are nearly as unburstable as the DC-£.
By: David Burke - 16th January 2014 at 11:42
The retail value of a Turbine DC-3 is quite high -certainly worth recovering if at all possible !
By: Newforest - 16th January 2014 at 10:53
Great, but don’t forget it’s ‘summer’ down there! 🙂
By: Moggy C - 16th January 2014 at 10:30
The background is this (I think. There have been two aircraft down, but this is the most recent)
Status: Preliminary – official
Date: Thursday 20 December 2012
Time: 13:00 UTC
Type: Basler BT-67 Turbo 67 (DC-3T)
Operator: Kenn Borek Air
Registration: C-GEAI
C/n / msn: 16305/33053
First flight: 1944
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R
Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 15
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Holtanna Glacier (Antarctica) show on map
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport: Holtanna Glacier, Antarctica
Destination airport: Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctica
Narrative:
A Kenn Borek Air DC3-T (Basler BT-67), C-GEAI, was conducting a tour operation off Holtanna Glacier, Antarctica, with 15 passengers aboard. During the take-off roll from the unprepared surface (position S71 55.3, E008 17.9) for the return leg to Novolazarevskaya, Antarctica, the aircraft contacted a snow drift and became airborne with insufficient speed to sustain flight. The aircraft stalled and contacted the surface with sufficient force to collapse the main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest on its belly sustaining substantial damage. Two passengers received minor injuries. The crew and passengers were accommodated in tents until a second Kenn Borek DC3-T arrived later in the day.
As to why the recovery? I have no idea – but hats off to them certainly.
Moggy
By: ozplane - 16th January 2014 at 10:22
What’s the story Moggy? Surely even a turbo DC-3 can’t be worth the cost of that rescue.
By: Bruce - 16th January 2014 at 10:20
Great stuff – I think its probably the old nose, but repaired at base, and then brought back on site, but cant be certain.
Amazing the lengths they have gone to for a DC3!
Bruce
By: Propstrike - 16th January 2014 at 10:08
Recovery does not do it justice ! Its a flaming rebuild. A whole new nose !!
Really impressive, such a ‘can-do’ attitude.
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January 16, 2014 at 9:21 am