DC-3 Accident in Antartica

[Chris Trott]

Yep. I know it's not Skydrol because I work on the R4D-6S and have fairly extensive experience in cleaning the leaked fluid up.

Interestingly, the Mi-24D and Mi-2 also use the exact same fluid, even when they were in Russia.

[SkippyBing]

Looking at the damage in the fifth photo down, and considering its remote location, I would have thought it was a write-off.

Even if it was written off they'd still have to remove it as the Antarctic Treaty prohibits leaving anything there. The RN had to remove all the parts of the Endurance Lynx that crashed a few years back because of it, I think in that case they also removed some contaminated soil.

[Quixoticish]

I wonder what the rather dodgy looking suspicious red stain is on the ice under the nose.

Hydraulic Fluid. When the gear was torn away, it took the hydraulic lines with it.

I thought they'd crashed into a polar bear.

[Garry Russell]

Polar Bear?????

About twelve thosand miles away from home if it was ;-)

Garry

[blanston12]

Maybe just a really big penguin.

[Garry Russell]

Maybe Joe...wearing a white fur coat

Garry

[RJP]

Which is why i sit in the Puzzle palace and NOT in maintenance Rich,

Maybe that's quite fortunate

I vaguely remember taking up the cockpit floor of a Dakota during a check years ago & finding a large piece of fruit-cake, still in its wrapper (it'd cost someone 42p). But, more to the point, the old autopilot servo pack was under the floor just aft of the fwd cockpit bulkhead (i.e. just aft of the seats), about in the area of the damage under the nose. IIRC it was hydraulically powered and its remnants would, IMHO, be a far more likely source of the fluid under the nose than when the gear sheared off (along with the lines alongside ths servo pack for the brakes, gear & flaps). The control surface cables attach at each end (i.e. do not pass through) so it needs to be left in-situ even when the ap is no longer needed.

Rgds
Richard

[Quixoticish]

Polar Bear?????

About twelve thosand miles away from home if it was ;-)

Garry

I didn't actually pay much attention to the article and just skimmed through the pretty pictures. But in my defence I didn't seriously think that it had collided with any of the local (or not so local) flora and fauna, I just entertained the whimsy in my minds eye for a second, a-la newspaper headlines. "DC3 SAVED BY HEROIC POLAR BEAR". And now an amendment, "DC3 CRASH LANDING HALTED BY HOLIDAYING POLAR BEAR". The poor bear bringing the sliding aircraft to a halt just before it slides over the thousand foot ice-cliff (there was an ice-cliff in my mind as well) but perishing in the process, and the crew giving him a little burial complete with Hollywood-esque "so does anyone want to say a few words?" Moments.

Yes yes yes, I have a vivid imagination and I never let real life get in the way of it.

[Garry Russell]

I know you was only kidding in the first place........but that wasn't goung to stop me

That is why Polar Bears don't eat Penguins.........it has nothing to do with them no being able to get the wrapper off

Garry

[Quixoticish]

That is why Polar Bears don't eat Penguins.........it has nothing to do with them no being able to get the wrapper off

BOOM TISH: