quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
If a member in the area of the crash (Franklin, TN) reads this, I would appreciate a synopsis of the weather in the area around 9:00am Wednesday morning, May 15, 2024.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
If a member in the area of the crash (Franklin, TN) reads this, I would appreciate a synopsis of the weather in the area around 9:00am Wednesday morning, May 15, 2024.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
How does a plane break up in flight? I recall seeing a video of a fire fighting plane where both wings broke off causing the plane to crash but I don't remember seeing what the cause of the wings failing.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
How does a plane break up in flight? I recall seeing a video of a fire fighting plane where both wings broke off causing the plane to crash but I don't remember seeing what the cause of the wings failing.

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Originally posted by Sailor1911:

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

How does a plane break up in flight?

Exceeds VNE, Never Exceed Speed. The airspeed at which there is potential for structural failure. Or, encounters such severe turbulence that it exceeds the ability of the aircraft to stay structurally sound.

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:

As V-Tail mentioned, wx or structural failure.

1. For tasks like hold entries, instrument approach procedures, etc., I always had the client do them both with autopilot, and hand-flown. A third option, if the airplane was equipped with a Flight Director, was to hand-fly the maneuver, following the FD cues.
   
   
2. I always had the client enumerate and demonstrate the various methods of disconnecting or over-riding the autopilot. Typically, in Bonanza / Baron type airplanes, there were around a half dozen ways to do this:
   
   
   • With many (most?) autopilots, adjusting the electric pitch trim would cause an autopilot disconnect.
     
     
   • A button on the yoke, usually left thumb, was AP disconnect.
     
     
   • An on-off switch on the AP control head on the panel.
     
     
   • A circuit breaker for the AP.
     
     
   • Avionics bus switch (kind of overkill, but it would do the job).
     
     
   • Electric master switch -- really overkill, but it would definitely turn the autopilot off!

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:
How does a plane break up in flight? I recall seeing a video of a fire fighting plane where both wings broke off causing the plane to crash but I don't remember seeing what the cause of the wings failing.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
Perhaps Vtail can clarify if the Wing Spar is Aluminum or Steel.

One property of aluminum is that it has no Fatigue Limit. This means that if Aluminum is exposed to "flexing" of ANY force it will eventually fail at it's weakest point. One example of this is a simple mail box post. Even if you use a 2 foot diameter post it will eventually crack and fall apart due to wind loading. It may take millions of years for that to happen but it will fail.

Steel has a Fatigue Limit. If you cycle steel below it's Fatigue Limit it won't ever fail and the Fatigue Limit will actually increase a moderate amount. It's why hot rodders loved engines out of station wagons back in the 60's. Moms driving the kids around would pile up lots of miles and nearly never rfun the engine at full throttle. As a result forged crankshafts and connecting rods were much more resistant to failure than on an engine that was run hard.

Anyhow if the wing spars on this plane were aluminum they it may be that they failed in flight and the wings came off the plane. It is why aircraft maintenance is so freaking critical. It is an area where trying to "cheap out" can actually get you killed.