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| The Tu-104 is/was considered a difficult and fussy plane to fly. This image is from a kinetic landing in Cypress. |
I missed an aniversary. On February 7, 1981 a Tupolev 104 crashed shortly after take-off from Pushkin Airport near St Petersburg killing all onboard including 28 highly ranked Soviet officers from the USSR's Pacific fleet.
Observers testified that the plane over-rotated (nose too high) at take-off and did not trim back to a more typical pitch (angle). The plane shed velocity and stalled eight seconds after lift-off.
It is hypothesized that as highly ranked military officers, many of the passengers were exempt from petty, annoying rules about limits on luggage weight restrictions and prohibitions regarding late additions to the cargo. Military officers did not get paid very much but had the ability to purchase luxury items in St. Pete and transport them to Vladivostok where they could be resold for many times their purchase price.
Others speculate that late additions to the cargo manifest were not properly secured and shifted aft in the cargo bay at nose-up.
Darwin, Newton and Bernoulli were not amused.
Wouldn't be the first time ignorant preening mucky mucks tried to override the laws of physics for personal gain. But physics...and gravity always wins.
ReplyDeleteWhen in cruise flight passing Lemoore NAS they were working an F-18 with dual flameout and a load out of ordnance. The parallel runways were closed as they erected the nets for the aircraft.
DeleteThen a Colonel in a King Air popped up on freq requesting they open the rwy for him. No, was the response. Col Asshole then demanded the open the rwy. Then he threatened tower personnel with the brig. Yes, on freq. It was really quite funny, at least for me.
There was a US crash over in the sandbox BCE poasted about witnessing on his blog. Unsecured tracked vehicle of some sort 'shifted' at takeoff, plane nosed over seconds later.
ReplyDeleteYup, contractor 747 carrying an MRAP that shifted.
DeleteTheir tie down points were not rated for items anywhere near that heavy. Because they only operated in war zones, they were never inspected by the FAA.
An associate of mine was captain of a cargo 747. Once a month he flew literally around the world delivering various materials, including a load of thoroughbed horses to a Saudi prince. I digress.
ReplyDeleteOne particular load was oilfield pipe out of Australia. After takeoff the load shifted towards aft stations. It was hairy for a moment but they were able to sufficiently push the nose down and return for landing. And a right and proper whipping of the load master.
Closer to home was a fatal accident which featured a military C-130. I think it was 2016 at a CONUS AFB. The aircraft was being returned to service after major overhaul, including engine replacement and aircraft structural repairs.
DeleteSix persons onboard, not all required crew, and a bird Colonel. According to a surviving crewman, the ranking officer ordered the pilots to truncate their run-up before flight. Therefore, certain items were not completed. One such item was the elevar trim was not adjusted for takeoff. (Post crash the trim wheel was found in the full aft position.)
When #2 engine cut out and #1 engine made partial power after takeoff with the aircraft in a left bank in climb attitude, it was all over but the crying.
The above is unacceptable for any run-up before flight*. It is unforgivable when its the first flight after return to service after major work.
*unless, of coarse, when the Heckowee are attacking.
"Darwin, Newton and Bernoulli were not amused."
ReplyDeleteNor were they persuaded.