Falklands : Falklands: Damages to Islander Bravo India Listed
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 22.11.2006 (Article Archived on 06.12.2006)
Thanks to 78 Squadron at Mount Pleasant FIGAS and Civil Aviation Department officials could travel to West Point Island to inspect Bravo India.
FALKLANDS: DAMAGES TO ISLANDER BRAVO INDIA LISTED
By J. Brock (FINN)
Following the crash landing off Islander Aircraft Bravo India, representatives of the Civil Aviation Department and senior members of FIGAS were flown by SeaKing Helicopter, courtesy of 78 Squadron at Mount Pleasant to West Point Island to inspect the damaged aircraft. The inspection revealed that Bravo India’s port engine and undercarriage had rotated down and rearwards due to “forces imparted during touchdown.”
A FIGAS Official said that this rapid movement caused a catastrophic failure of the port wing spar and the structure in this area has been severely torn and distorted. The wing also rotated down and aft resulting in the propeller and wingtip striking the ground, with the wing now clearly a write-off. Aircraft manufacturers Britten Norman confirmed this early on Monday morning. However, the resulting stress to the aircraft fuselage and subsequent damage to the integrity of the fuselage remains unclear as this cannot be determined until the hull has been returned to Stanley for further inspection.
For now Bravo India remains at the side of the West Point airstrip. And, use of that airstrip is curtained pending the offloading of fuel still aboard the aircraft and an inspection by local aerodrome officials. A recovery programme to bring the aircraft back to Stanley has been initiated.
An investigation into the cause(s) of the accident is on-going by the Civil Aviation Department. There is no timeframe yet for the investigation’s conclusion.
With the decrease in airframe availability and subsequent pressure on both operations and maintenance staff, there might be some disruptions to the service provided by FIGAS during the coming tourist season. FIGAS will ensure that any disruption will be kept to a minimum. It is expected that for the majority of the season there should be three airframes available.
Said a FIGAS spokesman, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who assisted during the recent incident; in particular, the residents of West Point for their hospitality and to 78 Squadron and to British International for arranging availability of their helicopters.”
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