|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Nickens, Dan
Date Posted:
Aug 12, 2019
Description:
At 2:30 a.m. there was no subtly to being awakened. One of the
crewopened the cabin door and said, “You might want to come on
deckand check the seaplane. The sea is rough and there’s 45 knot
winds.We’re about to turn broadside to the swell.“
Well, that get’ll the ol’heart started!
Date Taken:
July 12, 2019
Place Taken:
Bismark Sea north of New Britain PNG
Owner:
Nickens, Dan
File Name:
- Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=7WAt4RthGh">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=7WAt4RthGm">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=7WAt4RthGs">
Category:
Yacht Tending PNG
|
|
|
|
|
Click on photo to view the original size. |
| Viewers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read what others had to say:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
I found the seaplane secured, but just in case I added more tiedowns. I was up at oh dark thirty
and I should do something to justify my salary.
| | Attachments:
Strapped In 2019-07-12 06.33
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
On the bridge the ship’s instruments confirmed the gale. I could understand it happening in the
funnel between islands, but this was broadside to the big island of New Britain. At least it seemed
we were heading out of the open seas towards more protected water closer to shore.
Right.
I reported what the agent had said about flying crew to the Captain. They had already tried to give
him a lecture.
In my experience it’s never wise to “lecture†the Captain. The agents were informed that certain
seaplane flights were going to be guest-free. The bottom line was that we would do everything
possible to accommodate their wishes, but without compromising safety or efficiency of operations.
Right.
It's nice to have backup at the highest levels, but it was not a stress-free start to the day.
| | Attachments:
Hazards Ahead 2019-07-12 07.20
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
Stettin Bay near Kimbe, New Britain PNG
There was a meeting on the bridge. The guests’ agent told the Captain that the helicopter was
needed for a trip inland to see some waterfalls. The helicopter pilot was cautious. “In these winds it
will be very bumpy.â€
Bumpy for the helicopter? A 5000-pound machine with extreme wing loading. Who would want any
part of that?
The agent was insistent.
“We’ll have to get the seaplane off the deck for heli ops,†the first mate said. “We can just swing it
around to the back and park it there.â€
“That’s going to be dicey in these winds,†I sighed. I was remembering the earlier day when wind
was submerging the wings at the floating dock. “It would be best if I just taxied the airplane to the
beach.â€
Infamous last words.
| | Attachments:
Rough Ahead 2019-07-12 06.18
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
The wind had dropped to 25 to 30 knots by the time we launched the seaplane. It was tricky, but
the seaplane was safely in the water and I was in it. Just as happened before, the plane was rocking
as SuRi twisted in the wind. I kept the wings up with the ailerons.
“Okay, let me go. I want to get to the beach and park on solid ground.â€
The taxi ashore went surprisingly well until it didn’t. I was halfway to shore when it happened. The
port wing was suddenly slammed violently into the water as a tremendous gust of wind swerved
onto the starboard side. I just had time to completely slam the canopy closed as water rushed
upward.
The usual techniques for bringing the dunked wing up had no effect. I quickly scrambled into the
passenger seat in an attempt to keep the airplane from blowing up-side down. That stemmed the
crisis, but the port wing remained under water. I inched myself onto the ledge of the passenger side
rail.
The engine was still running but to reach down and turn it off risked blowing over. There was
nothing I could think to do but crawl further out of the airplane onto the starboard strut.
My counterbalancing was having some effect, but not enough. I went all in. I climbed completely
out to the edge of the strut.
Then the wind suddenly changed again. The wing I was on slammed down to the water. I
scrambled back into the cockpit just before getting a complete counter dunking.
Now that the airplane was almost level I reached across and turned the bilge pump on. Checking
the port wing I was surprised to see the float had survived the dunking.
The radio was alive with urgent calls. “Do you need help, Dan!†Well, I thought, it’s a bit late for
that, but all things considered I said, “Yes, send out one of the tenders while I try to get to the
beach.â€
The crew was way ahead. The rubber dingy was already on its way.
Now it seemed I had a moment to better assess the situation. As I was nearing the shore the wind
was shifting around the tall ridge ahead. I altered my heading to take a more angled course to the
beach that was better aligned into the wind.
The crystal-clear water showed another hazard ahead: coral heads! Should I try to wiggle my way
through and risk another upset in shallow water? Not after my near dunking! No, I’d do the only
thing I could think of: I lowered the landing gear.
Putting those big tires into the water brought additional stability to the wing wagging. And, if I hit
the coral, it would hopefully be wheels first.
That didn’t happen. I ran onto shallow, hard sand just beyond the coral. The SeaRey rose safely up
out of the water with its feet on solid seafloor.
Whew! What a relief!
That is until I looked out at the port wing. The underside out by the tip had been crushed inward. I
got out the plane and sloshed around to inspect it more closely.
Oh! Crap! The outboard top side was crushed in too. The dunking had caved in both sides of the
outer wing.
| | Attachments:
Ship Wreck 2019-07-12 09.30
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
There was nothing to do but leave the airplane parked. I went back to SuRi to brief the captain.
The helicopter pilot, Adrien, intercepted me at the stern. “I thought you were abandoning the plane
with the engine running when you climbed out on the wing. That was crazy wild!â€
“Yep. That’s what it felt like. Crazy wild.â€
“I can’t believe that happened. I’ve told the Captain I’m not flying in this wind!â€
Finally, some good judgment.
“Why didn’t you turn the engine off?†he asked
“That would have shifted the balance and I’d probably have flipped over.â€
“Why did you think of climbing out on the wing?â€
“I’m not the first. Have you heard the story of Kingsford Smith’s 1935 flight to Tasmania? He was
flying at night over the ocean in a Ford trimotor. The starboard engine quit. Then he noticed that
the port engine was losing oil and he had to shut it down. With only one engine he couldn’t sustain
altitude and they began to sink towards certain death in the cold, dark water below.â€
“What happened?â€
“His co-pilot, Sir Gordon Taylor, climbed out on the starboard strut in 90 mph wind and drained the
oil from the failed engine. Then he climbed out on the port strut and added it to the leaking engine.
He made six trips outside. It was enough for them to make it to land.â€
“That’s really crazy!â€
Yep, but it worked. Apparently they had a better outcome than me.
| | Attachments:
Unsafe Haven 2019-07-12 14.02
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 12,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
Oh, the ignominy! Towed back to the yacht by jet skis! Two of them. Strapped to a floating
platform. Shame!
Well, it was better than the alternative. In an attempt to save some face I had first tried to taxi
downwind to the boat. It only took one wayward blast of wind to remind me that climbing out on
limb (or strut) is a good way
to get wet.
See, I’m teachable. Now if only I could remember the lesson for more than a few hours….
| | Attachments:
Jet Tow 2019-07-12 14.47
| | |
|
John Dunlop - Aug 13,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
My heart rate seems to have returned to normal... OMG!
| | |
|
Randy Flood - Aug 16,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
Dan......You REALLY need to write a book about your adventures!!!! I will be the first one to buy a copy!!!! You have my dream job!!!
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 18,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
Thanks, Randy, but first I need to improve on my facts. Captain Smith in a Ford? No way. It was a Fokker.
| | |
|
Dennis Scearce - Aug 16,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
I'll be the second. Dan's stories and pictures are fascinating!! I wanna be like Dan when I grow up.
| | |
|
Nickens, Dan - Aug 18,2019
Viewers
| Reply
|
| |
You can’t grow up to be like me, Dennis. You have to choose one or the other. (Can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for that old joke!
Thanks, Dennis)
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
- About Searey.us -
- Contact Searey.us -
|
- Privacy Statement -
- Terms of service -
|
Copyright © 2024 Searey.us & Brevard Web Pro, Inc. -
Copyrights may also be reserved
by posters and used by license on this site. See Terms of Service for more information.
|
| |
- Please visit our NEW
Chapter Place Website at: chapterplace.com or
Free Chapter Management Website at: ourchapter.org. Good for all chapters, groups or families. |
| | | | | | | | |
