ARFF Daily News
Published on:
Wednesday the 10th of April, 2024
Boat captain and crew help rescue passengers from a crashed plane
By Ja'Colbi Rivers and Andrew McMunn
GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) - A boat captain and his crew carried out an impromptu rescue mission during what was supposed to be a normal fishing trip over the weekend.
Kyle Johnson and his crew were on their way to Chandeleur Islands when they saw a plane experiencing trouble over the Mississippi Sound.
“You never know what you’re going to run into at the Chandeleur Islands,” he said. “They are a really cool and magical place, and you never know what’s really going to happen.”
Johnson said they all were thinking that they hoped the troubled plane wouldn’t crash right before it plunged into the waters.
“It wasn’t a severe crash, but you never know what you’re walking into,” he said.
Seeing that the plane’s passengers needed help getting off the sinking plane, Johnson’s military expertise came into play.
“I told my clients, ‘Hey, look guys, I need you to do what I say. I’m in charge.’ I kept calm the whole time and had a plan the entire time,” Johnson said.
The waters were very rough, and both the boat and the plane were being buffeted by the waves, Johnson said. He and his crew worked to pull the passengers onto the boat and make sure they were safe.
“It was a sigh of relief for them because Chandeleur Island was very remote, 25 miles offshore with no cell phone service, and would take at least an hour for the Coast Guard to get there,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he plans to pack more safety supplies for future trips, including life jackets and urges others to do the same should they face a similar situation.
“If something would have happened with them and us, I would only have enough life jackets on my boat for me and my people, so bring more emergency equipment than you need and always have a plan if something goes wrong because you never know what’s going to happen out there,” he said.
2 rescued after helicopter crashes into pond in RI, police say
One person was taken to South County Hospital with minor injuries, while the other was treated at the scene and released, police said
By Anthony Vega
Two people were rescued after a helicopter crashed into a pond in Rhode Island Tuesday morning, according to police.
The crash happened just after 8 a.m. in Worden Pond in South Kingstown.
Two people were inside the helicopter at the time of the crash and were rescued by civilians who responded by boat, WJAR reported.
The pilot, Jeff Codman, 54, of Rhode Island, was treated at the scene and released, according to authorities.
The passenger, Amira Malikwas, was transported to South County Hospital with minor injuries.
“Very fortunate for the outcome, very experienced pilot. They were able to safely get out of the aircraft, and as the chief mentioned having a Good Samaritan nearby that immediately responder over, took possession of the two people, brought them back to shore awaiting rescue was critical for this," Chief of Rhode Island Environmental Police Dean Hoxsie told WJAR.
Officials said the helicopter is owned by Nantucket Helicopter and it was leased by REGENT Craft. According to South Kingstown police, the Codman and Malikwas are employees of REGENT Craft, a manufacturer of sea gliders.
Authorities said it is not clear at this time when the helicopter will be removed from the pond.
Contractor killed when she walks into Air Force drone propeller while looking down at device
By Stephen Smith
A civilian contract employee who was killed when she walked into the moving propeller of an unmanned aircraft at a Southern California airfield in September lost "situational awareness" before the fatal incident, Air Force officials said Friday. A detailed investigation report revealed the frantic moments just before and after 32-year-old Stephanie Cosme was fatally struck as she carried out testing at Gray Butte Airfield.
Cosme, of Palmdale, California, was working as a test engineer on the evening of Sept. 7, 2023, when she accidentally walked into the rotating propeller of a parked MQ-9A Reaper drone while performing a ground test on the aircraft, according to a final accident investigation report. The 40-page report concluded there were two underlying reasons for the accident — first, that Cosme was incorrectly trained on how to take telemetry readings when approaching the aircraft and, second, "she lost situational awareness while walking around" the drone as she took readings with a hand-held device.
Brig. Gen. Lance R. French said two other factors also "substantially contributed to the mishap," including a lack of communication between the contractor test team and ground support workers and, because of previous delays, "the tests conducted on Sept. 7 were rushed."
Cosme, who was employed by Sumaria Systems, LLC, was providing test support services when she was fatally struck.
According to the report, after taking measurements with a power meter, Cosme walked down the right side of the fuselage toward the rear of the aircraft, "looking down at the testing device the whole time, and appeared to be pressing buttons, possibly to keep the backlight on." As she came closer to the propeller, colleagues began "shouting and waving" in an attempt to get her attention, the report said.
"Without looking up to determine her position relative to the aircraft, (Cosme) proceeded to walk directly into the propeller of the (aircraft) sustaining fatal injuries," the report said.
Just before 7:58 p.m., the engine RPM dropped from 100% to 99% and engine torque jumped from 16% to 31% — apparently the moment of impact. Seconds later, the report says, the crew chief yelled over the radio to the aircrew, "Kill, kill, kill, kill!" Moments later, a crew member can be seen on the aircraft's front camera running from right to left, presumably running to the drone's kill switch.
Cosme, who was struck in the head and the left arm, was unresponsive when team members arrived. Resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 9:06p.m.
In its report, the Air Force said officials later attempted to replicate the fatal sequence of events in the same spot with the drone's engine running at the same power setting with similar twilight conditions and airfield lighting that were present on the night Cosme was killed. In that simulation, the propeller was not visible when looking to the rear of the aircraft, from where Cosme approached.
An obituary posted on Legacy.com noted that Cosme was "known for her passion for crafting, baking, aviation, and all things strange and unusual." She was survived by her parents, two siblings, fiance and stepdaugher.
"Though her time on this Earth was far too brief, Stephanie left a lasting legacy of love and kindness that will continue to shine brightly," the obituary reads.
The MQ-9A Reaper is a U.S. Marine Corps drone that performs intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over land or sea, according to the Air Force. The $56.5 million aircraft is 36 feet long and has a 66-foot wingspan. A Reaper drone can reach an altitude of up to 50,000 feet and carry up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles, according to the Air Force.
Reaper drones have been used to carry out U.S. military attacks, including the 2020 strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, and in 2021 against the Taliban as the militants were regaining control of Afghanistan amid the pullout of U.S. forces.
https://dodfirenews.blogspot.com/2024/04/contractor-killed-when-she-walks-into.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR2qLkywbDfM4YHQvQUFzOpH1oSKbl0mxZl3tJLgHjHbHVONemZuCganrgE_aem_ATXFBpHwk6aBzBG9crciZKRiDQKpCgkgRR59CsLo35doglnT2tRuwGdJvKQNpPbQkbkdyDLtZe50uFFTTBEwfqeW
NTSB Final Report: Stinson 108-1
Pilot Applied Full Right Rudder, “Not Realizing My Feet Were Partially On The Brakes...”
Location: Burlington, Washington Accident Number: WPR23LA271
Date & Time: July 11, 2023, 12:50 Local Registration: N8889K
Aircraft: Stinson 108-1 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while landing with a crosswind, a gust of wind was encountered that “caught my tail” and pushed the airplane to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder, “not realizing my feet were partially on the brakes,” and full throttle to abort the landing. The airplane turned to the right and the pilot applied left rudder to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane entered the runway safety area, impacted a berm, resulting in the airplane becoming airborne, sending it into the parking area at the airport. The airplane impacted the top of another airplane tied down in the parking area. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 29 with wind from 180° at 8 knots.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
14 Years ago today: On 10 April 2010 a Polish Air Force Tupolev 154M crashed near Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 on board, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
Date: Saturday 10 April 2010
Time: 10:41
Type: Tupolev Tu-154M
Owner/operator: Polish Air Force
Registration: 101
MSN: 90A837
Year of manufacture: 1990
Total airframe hrs: 5143 hours
Cycles: 3899 flights
Engine model: Soloviev D-30KU-154-II
Fatalities: Fatalities: 96 / Occupants: 96
Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off
Category: Accident
Location: ca 1 km E of Smolensk Air Base - Russia
Phase: Approach
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Warszawa-Okecie Airport (WAW/EPWA)
Destination airport: Smolensk Air Base (XUBS)
Investigating agency: MAK
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
A Tupolev 154M passenger jet, operated the Polish Air Force, was destroyed when it crashed on approach to Smolensk Air Base in poor visibility. All on board were killed in the accident, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
The airplane departed Warszawa-Okecie Airport (WAW), Poland at 07:27 local time, carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, several Members of Parliament, President of the National Bank of Poland Slawomir Skrzypek, Chief of General Staff Franciszek Gagor, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Kremer and a number of passengers and crew members.
During the flight the crew was in contact with air traffic controllers at Minsk, Moscow and Smolensk. The crew also was in contact with the crew of a Polish Air Force Yakovlev 40 passenger plane that had landed at Smolensk Air Base 90 minutes ahead of the Presidential flight.
At about 10:14 the flight descended through an altitude of 7500 m. Minsk Control radioed that the visibility at Smolensk Air Base was 400 m due to fog. The same conditions were transmitted to the crew when they contacted the controller at Smolensk. About 10:25 the pilot of the Yak-40 on the ground at Smolensk radioed that horizontal visibility was 400 m and vertical visibility about 50 m. Shortly afterwards they reported that an Ilyushin 76 transport plane had diverted to an alternate airfield after two attempts to land.
The crew continued preparations for an approach to runway 26 at the Smolensk Air Base. The cockpit door was open and during the approach there were two passengers present on the flight deck.
Meanwhile, visibility worsened to 200 m. This information was transmitted to the crew at 10:37. The crew requested permission to carry out a 'trial' approach to decision height (100 m) and asked the controller to expect a go around.
About 18 seconds before impact the terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) sounded: "Pull up", followed by an aural warning: "TERRAIN AHEAD". About 5 seconds before impact the autopilot and autothrottle were disconnected in order to execute a go around. The airplane contacted upsloping terrain at a distance of about 1100 meters from the runway and 40 m to the left of extended centreline. The aircraft height at that point was 15 m below the level of the runway threshold. The left wing struck a large tree causing the airplane to roll inverted. The Tu-154 crashed and broke up.
The immediate cause of the accident was the failure of the crew to take a timely decision to proceed to an alternate airdrome although they were not once timely informed on the actual weather conditions at Smolensk "Severny" Airdrome that were significantly lower than the established airdrome minima; descent without visual contact with ground references to an altitude much lower than minimum descent altitude for go around (100 m) in order to establish visual flight as well as no reaction to the numerous TAWS warnings which led to controlled flight into terrain, aircraft destruction and death of the crew and passengers.
According to the conclusion made by the pilot-experts and aviation psychologists, the presence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Air Forces in the cockpit until the collision exposed psychological pressure on the PIC's decision to continue descent in the conditions of unjustified risk with a dominating aim of landing at any means.
Contributing factors to the accident were:
- long discussion of the Tu-154M crew with the Protocol Director and crew of the Polish Yak-40 concerning the information on the actual weather that was lower than the established minima and impossibility (according to the Tu-154M crew opinion) to land at the destination airdrome which increased the psychological stress of the crew and made the PIC experience psychological clash of motives: on the one hand he realized that landing in such conditions was unsafe, on the other hand he faced strong motivation to land exactly at the destination airdrome.
In case of proceeding to an alternate airdrome the PIC expected negative reaction from the Main Passenger;
- lack of compliance to the SOP and lack of CRM in the crew;
- a significant break in flights in complicated weather conditions (corresponding to his weather minima 60x800) that the PIC had had as well as his low experience in conducting non-precision approach;
- early transition by the navigator to the altitude callouts on the basis of the radio altimeter indications without considering the uneven terrain;
- conducting flight with engaged autopilot and autothrottle down to altitudes much lower than the minimum descent altitude which does not comply with the FCOM provisions;
- late start of final descent which resulted in increased vertical speed of descent the crew had to maintain.
The systematic causes of the accident involving the Tu-154M tail number 101 aircraft of the Republic of Poland were significant shortcomings in the organization of flight operations, flight crew preparation and arrangement of the VIP flight in the special air regiment.
In a separate investigation , the Polish Committee for Investigation of National Aviation Accidents concluded the following:
Cause of Accident:
The immediate cause of the accident was the descent below the minimum descent altitude at an excessive rate of descent in weather conditions which prevented visual contact with the ground, as well as a delayed execution of the go-around procedure. Those circumstances led to an impact on a terrain obstacle resulting in separation of a part of the left wing with aileron and consequently to the loss of aircraft control and eventual ground impact.
Circumstances Contributing to the Accident:
1) Failure to monitor altitude by means of a pressure altimeter during a non-precision approach;
2) failure by the crew to respond to the PULL UP warning generated by the TAWS;
3) attempt to execute the go-around maneuver under the control of ABSU (automatic go around);
4) Approach Control confirming to the crew the correct position of the airplane in relation to the RWY threshold, glide slope, and course which might have affirmed the crew's belief that the approach was proceeding correctly although the airplane was actually outside the permissible deviation margin;
5) failure by LZC to inform the crew about descending below the glide slope and delayed issuance of the level-out command;
6) incorrect training of the Tu-154M flight crews in the 36 Regiment.
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