Spitty crash lands

**nudemetalz** · 16th January 2009, 08:00

Bugger !!!

The Spitfire had an undercarriage failure on landing at Masterton yesterday meaning she won't be there this weekend

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4820003a11.html

**Swoop** · 16th January 2009, 08:16

The damage looks very minimal. Prop is gone but the wings and fuselage look good.
The radiators will be gone, I'm guessing...

Bother!

**Bass** · 16th January 2009, 08:21

Originally Posted by Swoop

The damage looks very minimal. Prop is gone but the wings and fuselage look good.
The radiators will be gone, I'm guessing...

Bother!

If the engine was turning when it hit the deck, it will be an engine rebuild.
A Merlin overhaul costs about 1/4 of a mill these days.
The owner of the spit, Doug Brooker, is a keen contest aerobatic pilot. His aerobatic machine lives just across the way from our old dunger. He will not be very happy at the moment.

**Sully60** · 16th January 2009, 08:21

Originally Posted by Swoop

The damage looks very minimal. Prop is gone but the wings and fuselage look good.
The radiators will be gone, I'm guessing...

Bother!

On telly the rad nacelles looked to be relatively unscathed.
Still using a wooden prop? I would've that that would be something that could be 'modernised' without detracting from the aircraft's heritage, heh what would I know?
Maybe not now though

Originally Posted by Bass

If the engine was turning when it hit the deck, it will be an engine rebuild.
A Merlin overhaul costs about 1/4 of a mill these days.

**86GSXR** · 16th January 2009, 08:24

Bugger. Not again. Was that the one Sir Tim crashed a way back? Insurance company won't be happy.

**ManDownUnder** · 16th January 2009, 08:26

Wow - I feel sorry for all involved. Happy to hear the pilot got out ok but there'll be a few heavy hearts over the next little while as the full extent of the damage gets revealed...

**Swoop** · 16th January 2009, 08:31

Originally Posted by Bass

If the engine was turning when it hit the deck, it will be an engine rebuild.
A Merlin overhaul costs about 1/4 of a mill these days.

Insurance claim...

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

Was that the one Sir Tim crashed a way back?

No. Different plane.

Originally Posted by Sully60

Still using a wooden prop? I would've that that would be something that could be 'modernised' without detracting from the aircraft's heritage, heh what would I know?

Wooden would be cheaper than aluminium, I'm guessing.

**nudemetalz** · 16th January 2009, 08:41

For those who can't be bothered looking at the link....

**Bass** · 16th January 2009, 08:51

Originally Posted by Swoop

Insurance claim....

I hope so. I can't imagine Doug not being insured. However, I believe that insurance for these old warbirds is fearsomely expensive for obvious reasons and this won't help his premiums one iota

Originally Posted by Swoop

Wooden would be cheaper than aluminium, I'm guessing.

Not sure.
Our beast also has a wooden prop and the problem these days is finding someone who is qualified to work on them.

**ZK-Awesome** · 16th January 2009, 09:06

I believe that wooden props are used as opposed to metal as on impact they will shatter, which puts less stress on the engine, which may make repairs cheaper.

That Beech 1900d that landed at woodbourne showed a similar thing with its props (though I think they were carbon props or something):

**nudemetalz** · 16th January 2009, 09:30

That is one spectacular picture.
Apparently did bug'rall damage to the 1900D.

**Bass** · 16th January 2009, 09:33

Originally Posted by ZK-Awesome

I believe that wooden props are used as opposed to metal as on impact they will shatter, which puts less stress on the engine, which may make repairs cheaper.

That Beech 1900d that landed at woodbourne showed a similar thing with its props (though I think they were carbon props or something):

I think you are largely correct.
However, whether the engines are turning or not makes a big difference and so if a belly landing is anticipated, they try and get the engines stopped just before impact.

I watched the Bandierante that lost a wheel near Fielding some years ago land at Palmerston wheels-up. It as probably the best landing I have ever seen - really smooth and gentle. He had the props stationary as he came over the fence and the aircraft (I was told) was flying again 2 weeks later.

They took all the passengers off that one into a hanger and cracked a crate of Champagne.

**MisterD** · 16th January 2009, 09:42

Originally Posted by Bass

However, whether the engines are turning or not makes a big difference and so if a belly landing is anticipated, they try and get the engines stopped just before impact.

I think, from the fact that all four blades are gone, we can deduce that the prop was turning in this instance...