Subject: ASN Accident Digest 2002-20 C-130 Hercules Hawkins & Powers 17 JUN 2002 Hawkins & Powers Aviation Lockheer C-130A N130HP near Walker, CA, USA 3(3) ============================================================================ = ASN ACCIDENT DIGEST 2002-20 ============================================================================ = Date: 17 JUN 2002 Time: ca 14.45 Type: Lockheed C-130A Hercules Operator: Hawkins & Powers Aviation Registration: N130HP C/n: 3146 Year built: 1956 Engines: 4 Allison T56-A Crew: 3 fatalities / 3 on board Passengers: 0 fatalities / 0 on board Total: 3 fatalities / 3 on board Location: Walker, CA (USA) Phase: Cruise Nature: Fire fighting Departure airport: Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV (MEV) Destination airport: Minden-Tahoe Airport, NV (MEV) Remarks: Hercules N130HP was hired to fight a 10,000-acre wildland blaze near Walker, CA. After dumping a red cloud of fire retardant, the right wing separated from the aircraft at low altitude. The plane then lost control and rolled left. During this manoeuvre separated as well and the aircraft nosedived into the ground. The whole event just took about 4 seconds and was captured on video a passer-by. In April 1998 two one-inch cracks were found on the bottom of a wing (the service difficulty report does not state which wing), at Outer Wing Station 33, which is 33 inch (83cm) from the wing joint. These cracks were repaired. -------------------------------------------- Sources -------------------------------------------- AP; FAA; video at BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2051000/2051058.stm -------------------------------------------- AIRCRAFT PROFILE LOCKHEED L-100/C-130 HERCULES -------------------------------------------- * Last (civilian) hull-loss accident: 06 SEP 2000 T & G Aviation N116TG, at Aubenas, France - 2 fatalities * Last fatal accident: ibid. * Total number of hull-losses: 39 civilian Hercules losses * 3rd civilian Hercules loss during a fire fighting operation Several Hercules planes have crashed following wing failures of some sort: 02 OCT 1980 - USAF C-130A - Crashed after losing part of the left wing leading edge during a low-level flight. (http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+174&;) 13 APR 1982 - USAF C-130H - The engine nr. 4 mounting failed, which caused the wing to break off. (http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+184&;) 12 MAY 1982 - USAF C-130E - Crashed after wing broke off while in formation flight. (http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+186&;) 02 APR 1986 - USAF HC-130P - Wing failure in turbulence at low altitude (http://aviation-safety.net/cgi-bin/dbsearch.cgi?mil+search+display+203&;) 23 MAY 1974 - Saturn L-100 - the left wing separated from the aircraft at about outer wing station 162 (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1974/740523-1.htm) 27 OCT 1974- Alaska Int. L-100 - In-flight failure of right wing near Station 183 (near the no.3 engine) in moderate turbulence. (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1974/741027-0.htm) 13 AUG 1994 - Hemet C-130A - Right wing (including no.3 and no.4 engine) failed in-flight following a fuel tank explosion. (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1994/940813-1.htm) -------------------------------------------- OPERATOR PROFILE HAWKINS & POWERS AVIATION -------------------------------------------- Company specializing a.o. in aerial firefighting from Greybull, WY * website: http://www.hawkinsandpowers.com/ * Founded: 1969 * 3rd fatal Hawkins & Powers hull-loss accident -------------------------------------------- COUNTRY PROFILE USA -------------------------------------------- * Last hull-loss airliner accident: 12 NOV 2001 American Airlines Airbus A.300B4-605R N14053, at New York - 260 + 5 fatalities * Last fatal accident: ibid. * USA is rated Category 1 (meeting ICAO standards) in FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA) -------------------------------------------- 2002 SO FAR -------------------------------------------- * Number of fatal hull-loss airliner accidents : 20 (safety rank since 1950: 17th safest) * Number of fatalities: 829 (safety rank since 1950: 5th worst)