What caused the C 130 firefighting aircraft to crash?
Kennedy said there many possible causes for Thursday’s crash, but noted that a well-known risk in the C-130 fleet was metal fatigue-induced wing failure. “Reduced visibility, high turbulence, and low flying can all be contributing risk factors for air tanker crashes,” Kennedy said in emailed comments.
How many fire air tankers does California have?
CAL FIRE currently has 23 S-2Ts that are utilized state- wide. CAL FIRE utilizes the S-2T air tankers for fast initial attack delivery of fire retardant on wildland fires.
What do air tankers drop on fires?
What fire crews are dropping on fires is called Phos-Chek, which is an 88% water-based retardant mixed with a non-toxic commercial grade fertilizer. It’s has a clay-based dye to make it visible from the air and on the ground. Cal Fire has been dropping retardant constantly during the 2021 wildfire season.
What happened to c130 plane crash?
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine air force C-130 aircraft carrying combat troops assigned to fight Muslim militants crashed and exploded while landing in the south Sunday, killing at least 42 army soldiers on board and three civilians on the ground in one of the worst disasters in the air force’s history.
What caused the C 130 crash in Australia?
In a preliminary report into the crash, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said after the drop, the aircraft was flying at a very low height with its left wing down and it hit a tree before crashing into the ground, leading to a post-impact fuel fire.
Where do air tankers usually drop their loads?
Tankers don’t usually drop retardant directly on the fire itself. Instead, they let it go in front of a fire, directing its course or slowing its advance, and giving ground crews a chance to control or extinguish it. Retardant can also be released to protect homes or important sites and to keep access roads open.
Do fire planes fly at night?
The night aerial firefighting that does occur in the state is focused on rotary-wing aircraft operated by fire agencies in several counties of Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura and Kern.
How do air tankers fill with water?
Airtankers or water bombers are fixed-wing aircraft fitted with tanks that can be filled on the ground at an air tanker base or, in the case of flying boats and amphibious aircraft, by skimming water from lakes, reservoirs, or large rivers without needing to land.