Marine KC-130T crash

[HappyHappy]

A converted (former USAF?) WC or KC-130H crashed.
Sadly 16 people died. Converted H models were called
KC-130T after the conversion.

Back in the 1978 time frame we received an emergency
AFTO to immediately inspect the engine control cables in ALL C-130s
where they passed up and around
the bulkhead (A bulkhead is a wall for you land lovers) behind
the pilots seats. The engine control cables
were discovered to be fraying and failing early
resulting in an uncommanded engine (prop) reverse.

We on GUAM in the 54th WRS had to ground all
our WC-130E and H model planes till
the controls were re-rigged. They ALL were un safe!

I'll bet that is what caused this crash. the results
and eye witness accounts lead me to believe a
prop went to full reverse in flight.

The resulting tumble out of control would
be irrecoverable even if you were expecting it.

This was my girl at AAFB.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

She's beer cans now

From Wikki

December 10, 1978 : C-130E 68-10951, c/n 4331, of the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, crashed on approach to Fort Campbell Army Air Field, Kentucky – engine control wire failure.

Same issue 39 years later.

[callmeslick]

this was old news. Maybe if you got your news feed from MSN, you'd know this happened a few days ago.

[HappyHappy]

Pissing on your ugly face is fun,
but at least you are stupid.

[fatman]

Wow maybe its just me but i would be thinking that control cables would get eyes on them every now and again, poor blokes

[Pudfark]

Prolly requires some disassembly of the aircraft fats....to see the fraying. HH would know and perhaps will expound on that?

[HappyHappy]

Of course we do not know for sure
about the cause quite yet.

BUT too further elaborate...

The bulkhead behind the pilots is a PITA to access.
It is normally removed and inspected in "periodic"
or "phase" inspection, every 3 years back in the 1970s.
(I believe the time has been shortened since)

On Guam when we pulled our bulkheads the cables looked like
a bad hair day.... They were frayed where they took
a 90 deg turn over the rollers.

At HAFB Utah we opened them up more often. We are
allowed to do that without orders. They had
all been recently replaced and we never found anything.
But we were paranoid about it.

All Allison T-56 powered planes have a potential fatal flaw.
There is no fail safe to prevent reverse in flight.
My opinion that this is a flaw. We all agreed on this
back in the 1970s

A cable failure of any kind on the up throttle side
results in the tensioners forcibly slamming the prop
into reverse pitch. Worse yet, at full power.
4,000+ hp backwards!

The nasty scenario goes like this. (I am sure most here know this)

Cable fails.

Engine/prop goes into full power reverse.

Airflow over the wing on the effected side is mostly blanked out.

Due to the massive power imbalance the aircraft yaws violently.

Vertical fin and rudder separate or are severely damaged
so as to make rudder control ineffective.

The aircraft is slammed into a 3D spin.

G forces are so violent that it matters not if the pilots are strapped in.
My feeling is they may have had no ability even to call this in.
The shit really hits the fan, and hard!

No rudder and no time mean you are in a tumbling 175,000 lb leaf fluttering to the ground.

Note that the plane went in on its back straight down, no skid marks in the field...

The only chance anyone has is you get lucky and the engine and or prop separate.

[Pudfark]

Good Explain HH. Makes sense to me... Thanks

[HappyHappy]

So far I have seen no photos of the plane showing
the remains of the vertical stabilizer.

The ramp and door are more or less intact enough to be
discernible as such.

C-130 vertical fins are pretty tough and usually have big pieces remaining
even in an inverted crash. I doubt it is embedded in the soy field.

Anyone here seen photographs of the other debris?

Is the fin and or rudder the item
found on the other side of the highway?

[Pudfark]

I have not seen any of those photo's....anywhere. I agree with you, that if? the propeller reversed at full speed, the induced yaw would be violent and likely would do what you suggested. I also believe, possibly, a contributing factor could have been a wing structural failure? I further believe that the C 130's series, due to age, have to have their wings x-rayed every few years to check that out? You likely would know more about that than me....
I don't have your experience....I seem recall from reading what I wrote above...could be wrong?

I also recall from reading that this type of aircraft, with minimal fuel aboard and no load, could out turn a P-51 at speed? Again, I defer to your experience.

[HappyHappy]

There is a marine site with a photo
of the vertical stab looking undamaged
in the field across the highway .
it would not let me link or copy the picture.
I will try again later.

What ever the cause it looks like
a sudden prop/engine reversal.