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FedEx Plane Crashes Off St. Maarten Coast
After taking off from St. Maarten's Princess Juliana Airport on Wednesday around 6:45 pm a FedEx cargo plane en route to Puerto Rico crashed at sea shortly after takeoff. (www.thedailyherald.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
It hurts to know I flew N38OMQ out of JFK for American Eagle in the early 90's. A trusted servant. God rest the crew's souls.
God bless their families with grace and comfort.
Pilot reported to be a German national with a green card. Co-pilot US citizen from Puerto Rico. The short SH36 was owned by SkyWay Enterprises based in Kissimmee, FL and was under contract to FedEx. The plane was based in Puerto Rico.
When there is crash is of a cargo plane on takeoff, I always think cargo shift. The Emery crash in Sacramento in 2000 was a result of cargo shift. RIP pilots.
Interesting that the aircraft had been undergoing repairs for two days prior to the flight, after apparently having control problems on landing.
The BEA is going to be looking hard at the maintenance performed on this plane and those who performed it. I believe this Short was flown by a contract carrier for FEDEX deeding the Hub San Juan. I believe means since two American Nationals were at the controls and the carrier may be of American registry the NTSB will offer assistance and join the BEA in the investigation.
That is pretty standard for any crash for the investigators to look into the maintenance.. that is pretty much a given regardless of if they find anything or not. They pulled the maintenance records on the UPS plane that pilot CFIT'd in Alabama...
Sparkie624, I agree though in this case I believe that maintenance is going to be the first place they are going to look and they are going to take a hard look at those that performed it.
Some time ago there was a US Air commuter flight that crashed. In checking the maintenance records they found that maintenance to the stabilizer was performed as part of the inspection. The maintenance was performed by an untrained mechanic and his supervisor with the supervisor signing off on the work. This is a violation of FAA rules. Inspection and sign off cannot be done by the same person who did the work. We followed the same rule in the air Force for any work that would ground the aircraft. Work to a control system met that criteria.
What I was trying to point out was. That in this incident the investigation will immediately center on maintenance and the people performing it. The BEA and the NTSB will want to talk to those that performed the work and those that inspected it. They will also be giving a hard look at the maintenance records for this aircraft.
We once cross hooked the rudder cables on a KC135 after changing the Rudder Seal. My shop chief was in a hurry to go home that night and did not perform a full checkout. I won't tell you what the pilot said when the plane would only turn left after takeoff. During the investigation those of us that did the work were cleared even though it was one of us that hooked up the rudder pedals backwards. Our shop chief got an Article 15 for failure to follow the checkout procedure and for participating in work he was going to be inspecting.
I have a feeling this is what we will hear about this incident. That somehow maintenance did not follow procedures.
Some time ago there was a US Air commuter flight that crashed. In checking the maintenance records they found that maintenance to the stabilizer was performed as part of the inspection. The maintenance was performed by an untrained mechanic and his supervisor with the supervisor signing off on the work. This is a violation of FAA rules. Inspection and sign off cannot be done by the same person who did the work. We followed the same rule in the air Force for any work that would ground the aircraft. Work to a control system met that criteria.
What I was trying to point out was. That in this incident the investigation will immediately center on maintenance and the people performing it. The BEA and the NTSB will want to talk to those that performed the work and those that inspected it. They will also be giving a hard look at the maintenance records for this aircraft.
We once cross hooked the rudder cables on a KC135 after changing the Rudder Seal. My shop chief was in a hurry to go home that night and did not perform a full checkout. I won't tell you what the pilot said when the plane would only turn left after takeoff. During the investigation those of us that did the work were cleared even though it was one of us that hooked up the rudder pedals backwards. Our shop chief got an Article 15 for failure to follow the checkout procedure and for participating in work he was going to be inspecting.
I have a feeling this is what we will hear about this incident. That somehow maintenance did not follow procedures.
Mx will be the obvious 1st choice though, as the crash cause appeared to be same thing that had been worked on. I can only imagine your 135 pilot's choice of words on the left turn. LOL