Perris Skyvan ?

[tbrown 26]

Anybody have any real facts on what exactly happened to the Perris Skyvan yesterday ? We were at Chicks Rock at Elsinore, which hired the Skyvan to support the boogie. The 'Van came over and flew exactly one load, then on the way back down reported "mechanical difficulties" and that it was headed back to Perris. We have heard a number of rumors, including a lost engine cowling, right up to a full engine explosion that has seriously damaged the airplane. Either way, the load of jumpers had already - thankfully - exited the plane before whatever it was that happened.

Perris, God bless them, was so good about it that they promptly dispatched their "Papa Victor" Otter to take the Skyvan's place. Which was a good thing because the boogie drew a big crowd and the two regular Otters just couldn't have done it themselves.

So can anybody from Perris confirm or deny what's happened to the 'Van ?

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[ltdiver 3]

Not sure this belongs in the Incidents forum, but here goes.

Yes, the cowlings were blown off the left engine of the SkyVan. It happened after the last skydiver left. I'm guessing that they're somewhere in Lake Elsinore now, since they were over the water when this happened (the cowlings, not the skydivers).

Visible damage (to a non-pilot, so take it for what it's worth):

Lost cowlings
Shredded engine
Punctured window on the left. Dislodged window on the opposite right.
Small holes running down the fuselage
Rip on the top of the left horizontal stabilizer
Oil all along the side of the SkyVan, including the tail. Still dripping at sunset, several hours later

I'm sure the estimates will be coming in at a later date.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[BillyVance 34]

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Lost cowlings
Shredded engine
Punctured window on the left. Dislodged window on the opposite right.
Small holes running down the fuselage
Rip on the top of the left horizontal stabilizer
Oil all along the side of the SkyVan, including the tail. Still dripping at sunset, several hours later

I'm sure the estimates will be coming in at a later date.

ltdiver

Wow... good thing nobody was still on the plane when the engine blew (except the pilots who were out of damage range)...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[billvon 2,991]

Since no one was hurt and the aircraft landed without incident, I am moving this to General. One note -

>Punctured window on the left. Dislodged window on the opposite right.

The right side window was dislodged before the incident.

[ltdiver 3]

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The right side window was dislodged before the incident.

Thanks Bill for the clarification. Since there was gaffer's tape around that window, which was crinkled like it had been stretched, I didn't know if it was pre- or post-. Kind of strange how it was the exact opposite of the punctured left window, though. Do you know, was the item that went through the left window still in the 'Van or had it already rolled out the back during flight?

Also for moving this thread to a more appropriate forum.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[billvon 2,991]

> Do you know, was the item that went through the left window still in
>the 'Van or had it already rolled out the back during flight?

Per one of the A+P's at Perris, the window was broken but there was no debris inside the skyvan. Since the skyvan was in a nose-down or fairly level attitude from the incident until the point it touched down, I doubt it rolled out the back.

[MB38 0]

The landing was quite graceful, all things considered. I don't know who was flying that load, but cheers to him. I was one of about a dozen jumpers in the grass landing area when the van came in. I'm sure half of those at the DZ saw the landing and will be able to give more detailed reports.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[ltdiver 3]

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I don't know who was flying that load

Drew

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cheers to him

Absolutely

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[jdobleman 0]

Major question for us in NorCal: what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks? It was supposed to be the main aircraft.

madjohn

Main goals in life: Be on the "Jumpers Over Eighty" (JOE) World Record and attend the Lost Prairie Boogie once after I'm gone.

[bigway 4]

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Major question for us in NorCal: what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks? It was supposed to be the main aircraft.

madjohn

Ouch

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[tbrown 26]

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Not sure this belongs in the Incidents forum, but here goes.

Thanks to all for the information. I wasn't quite sure whether this belonged in Incidents either, but thought it was, all things considered. No problem if you want to move it, and we're all certainly glad nobody was hurt, which would have most definitely made it an incident.

A lot of us at Chicks Rock were locals who also jump at Perris and we were very concerned and getting a lot of rumors and sketchy information, at least on Saturday. So thanks for giving us the rest of the story.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[Elisha 1]

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Major question for us in NorCal: what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks? It was supposed to be the main aircraft.

madjohn

That was gonna be the skyvan? Doh!

[billvon 2,991]

>what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks?

I would guess close to zero. At the very minimum it will need a new engine/motor mount/cowling.

[champu 1]

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Wow... good thing nobody was still on the plane when the engine blew (except the pilots who were out of damage range)...

It was a full load, but it was two large groups so jump run didn't take very long.

...poor skyvan.

[Feeblemind 1]

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>what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks?

I would guess close to zero. At the very minimum it will need a new engine/motor mount/cowling.

Also aren't the skyvans supposedly going to time out soon? I heard rumor the manufacture will no longer support them so when they time out, thats it.

Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

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Visible damage (to a non-pilot, so take it for what it's worth):

Lost cowlings
Shredded engine
Punctured window on the left. Dislodged window on the opposite right.
Small holes running down the fuselage
Rip on the top of the left horizontal stabilizer
Oil all along the side of the SkyVan, including the tail. Still dripping at sunset, several hours later

Any pictures??

[DBCOOPER 5]

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Also aren't the skyvans supposedly going to time out soon? I heard rumor the manufacture will no longer support them so when they time out, thats it.

Airframes are now hour limited .....
Not sure how accurate this is but if your interested..
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-28751.htm

Replying to: Re: Stall On Jump Run Emergency Procedure? by billvon

If the plane is unrecoverable then exiting is a very very good idea.

[legorowbot 0]

I'm told this is why CrossKeys skyvan doesn't fly anymore... too many hours.

Why does it say "Append signature to post" when I don't have a signature?

[ltdiver 3]

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Any pictures??

I took some with my cell phone but can't get the darn thing to blue-tooth them over to my 'puter. I can get pictures -from- my computer to my cell phone but not the reverse. (I was too lazy to walk clear back to my trailer to get the 'real' camera gear before trecking over to the DZ's hanger )

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Lucky... 0]

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I'm told this is why CrossKeys skyvan doesn't fly anymore... too many hours.

I think it has to do with how the FAA certifies the acft when new. I know some 300-400 series Cessnas were looking at being grounded a while back until the FAA extended their time via an AD or STC mod. I am unaware if that's the deal with the skyvans, but it is a shame if so. I really like them to jump, far better than the Otters.

[Lucky... 0]

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I'm told this is why CrossKeys skyvan doesn't fly anymore... too many hours.

I think it has to do with how the FAA certifies the acft when new. I know some 300-400 series Cessnas were looking at being grounded a while back until the FAA extended their time via an AD or STC mod. I am unaware if that's the deal with the skyvans, but it is a shame if so. I really like them to jump, far better than the Otters.

Here is a proposal of certain S/N acft:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:pnRTXybBXl4J:a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/pdf/02-28751.pdf+skyvan+time+limited+wings&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9

[SkydiveJack 1]

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>what are the chances it will be fixed in time for the Byron Boogie in 2 weeks?

I would guess close to zero. At the very minimum it will need a new engine/motor mount/cowling.

Was this an un-contained engine failure? Meaning- did parts of the compressor or turbine exit through the sides of the engine case?

[diablopilot 2]

I wonder if it got them a new "bad spot" truck.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[billvon 2,991]

>Was this an un-contained engine failure?

Yep. No blades left on the turbine that I can see.

[riggerrob 643]

Yes, aircraft life is based on the number of hours flown or the number of cycles (hot/cold on engines or number of landings on a tire).

Some times these "lives" are defined after the airplane has been in service for a few decades.

The FAA also often approves two or three methods of compliance. The first method is usually an NDT (x-ray, dye penetrant, etc.) inspection of the suspect component (i.e wing roots of AT-6, SNJ and Harvard military-surplus trainers). When the cost of repeat inspections gets too expensive, someone usually develops an alternative method of compliance that involves reinforcing or replacing suspect components.
The second method of compliance may include riveting or bolting a reinforcing strap to the suspect component (i.e. Beech 18 wing spars).
The third method usually involves replacing the suspect component (i.e. Twin Otter wing struts).
Sometimes the original manufacturer approves a repair method - which is usually expensive. For example, DeHavilland used to sell replacement wing struts.
But if the original manufacturer is no longer in business or no longer supports its older airplanes (i.e. DeHavilland sold the Type Certificates of its older airplanes to Viking) then overhaul shops develop fixes and apply for FAA Supplementary Type Certificates.
For example, by the time Viking finishes overhauling a DeHavilland Beaver, it may only have 40% of its original components, but since all those new components were made (by Viking under PMA) to the same tight standards as DeHavilland original components, it is still legal to fly.

Whether an airplane owner decides to comply or scrap the airplane is a question of the overall value of the airplane. A lot of "beater" Beech 18 cargo and jump planes were scrapped when they came due for wing spar inspections because the cost of the strap exceeded the value of the airframe. In other words, the operator could purchase another airworthy Beech 18 for less than the cost of reinforcing his old Beech 18.