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Seaplane explodes and crashes off Miami Beach

Cylinder

Philosopher
Cylinder
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Messages
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Location
Arkansas
Just breaking on cable news. The crash occured in Government Cut off Miami Beach. 18 were on board with 12 confirmed fatalities and no know surviviors.
 
That's only a mile or so from where I work. It happened while I was there. Fortunately, there's a Coast Guard base, and all the Port of Miami Police right there, so anyone who was still in need of help was able to get it right away.
 
ImaginalDisc said:
That's only a mile or so from where I work. It happened while I was there. Fortunately, there's a Coast Guard base, and all the Port of Miami Police right there, so anyone who was still in need of help was able to get it right away.
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I saw the video on CNN...that crash was in no way survivable. I used to fly out of FLL (Ft Lauderdale Intl Airport) and the Grumman amphibs were always on the field. The big radial engines were LOUD. But the pics I've seen of the crash plane show them retro-fitted with more modern turbo-prop engines. Makes me wonder if somehow the retro-fit is to blame in this crash? Methinks the 50 year old airframe was perhaps not meant for the stress of a jet engine...or perhaps the fuel tanks were somehow not right for jet fuel?? Sad situation. :( I've been aboard the old Grumman amphibs several times. A very basic aircraft...but always reliable and safe. I wonder what went wrong?

006882.jpg
 
rikzilla said:
Methinks the 50 year old airframe was perhaps not meant for the stress of a jet engine
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Probably would't have been certified if it wasn't.

If the turboprops were of the same power as the original radial engines (c600Hp each) I would have thought that there wouldn't have been any extra stress and indeed there may have been less, given that turboprops run smoother.

..edited to fix Hp figure and to add that any conversion to turboprops probably happened in the '70s
Frakes Aviation in the USA reengined a small number of Mallards as G73Ts in the early 1970s, the PT6s substantially boosting performance and operating economy
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from here http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=232
 
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Mid air collision? Jet fuel containing Mallard fell without fire, gas fueled general aviation plane fell in flames and black smoke? There sure sre two big pieces falling in the video...

Plans just don't often burst into flames in mid air...
 
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