Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Another Turboprop bites the dust

The Bute, Montana Pilatus Turboprop crash this past weekend, and the Buffalo, New York, Bombardier Turboprop crash a few weeks ago, seem to have a common thread. Basically either going into adverse conditions (like icing), or operating outside the aircraft specifications (overloading, or outside the center of gravity), seems to make these aircraft prone to flipping over or diving straight for the ground. In the 1950's a series of Lockheed Electra aircraft dove for the ground also. Having long turbojet engines and big propellers stuck far out in front of the lifting surfaces, contributes to wing and fusilage stress, and controllability problems when trying to make turns in rough weather. Both the Pilatus and the Bombardier aircraft were made in Europe, and have supposedly have great safety records. So why did they crash? Maybe not enough pilot training, or FAA pilot certification, for the aircraft type. Maybe thinking that you can fly a turboprop like you can fly a turbojet. Maybe getting fatigued at the end of the day, and catching "get-home-itis" (disregarding fatigue warnings and proceding any way just to get home). I think it was fatigue at the end of a long day that may be the ultimate cause of both crashes.

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