BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock

Subject: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 09:03 AM

In the review report(published 1999)of the original accident investigation report into the accident of EI-AOM on 24/03/68, it mentions that a 1/2" crack was found in the fuselage skin and was recorded in the aircraft log book on 05/02/68 as a possible reason why the aircraft did not fly on that date. I have been unable to find any other reference to this in the rpeort and I am very mystified as no satisfactory reason has ever been given for the cause of this crash! I wonder if such a small structural fault could eventually lead to a catastrophic failure which could possibly explain what caused this mishap?

Any aircraft experts out there?

http://www.irlgov.ie/tec/aaiu/report/report.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: Skivee
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 02:03 PM

My understanding is that there was no way to recover vital wreckage parts at the time. The accident report noted that sigificant eveidence was still laying on the seabed, and whistfully suggested that some could wash ashore at a later date.
It seems unlikely that a 1/2" crack could have brought the plane down by itself. While the Viscount was a pressurized plane, it was flying at only 16,000 when it ran into difficulty.
The explosive decompression Aloha Air incedent near Maui might seem to be similar, but the Viscount was traveling at 1/2 the height, and 1/2 the speed.
This seems to be a good candidate for the "We'll Never Know" file.

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: Zen
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 02:33 PM

I'm not an aircraft expert but this story brings a shudder back to me on a personal level. I was a fifteen year old at the time and remember that crash well. It was the Aer Lingus plane before the one we returned to London on the same day and I most probably flew on that very plane a couple of times on previous trips home.

Zen

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 10:51 AM

If you read incident reports, which are published by the FAA, there are cracks all over the place in aircraft. Most of these are found at relevent C or D checks when the aircraft is given a really thorough inspection. It really depends where they are as to how significant the consequences can be.
The DC 10 crash in Chicago in the 80's was caused by a (from memory) 7" long crack in a 14" long fitting in the rear engine pylon attachment.
It was determined on subsequent investigation that aicraft flying around with 3" long cracks were still doing OK, it didn't cause a problem untill the crack propagated to about half the length of the bulkhead.
After scanning the above linked report, I would say that you are never going to find a definitve answer to your question.
Just be thankful that the airline industry in all it's facets is a lot better now than it was back then.
I remember seeing another report on aircraft losses and the rate of loss today has gone way down from the earlier years when things were just being developed. The 50's data was unbelievably high.
Good Luck anyhow.
JohnB 35 years in the Aicraft Manufacturing business.

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: Gulliver
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 11:39 AM

The delivery and content of the "final" report on this incident, in 2003 (I think) has proved quite controversial. An investigative team from RTE found a number of contradictory and impossible statements in the foot-high report, which was carried out by three aviation experts, two of whom live in France, I believe. There appear to be many unanswered questions.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 10:14 PM

Thanks JohnB, very interesting.

Gulliver - It was through RTE Radio giving quite a bit of coverage to this mishap recently that prompted me to look at the report and start this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Vickers Viscount Air Crash-Tuskar Rock
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 10:47 PM

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