Honolulu Caravan crash

[CFI A&P]

Maybe it immediately started to turn left after they took off.

 

[bimmerphile]

I'm confused. If a pilot has completed their preflight how does a fairing impede elevator control during or after take off? I'm not an advocate for Hawaiian ground ops (I have stories) but if your supposition is true doesn't it weigh even more heavily to do a thorough preflight? Someone is responsible for this egregious loss of control, but assuming it's a failure on the ground handler seems presumptive. Do you walk around and look at that the airplanes you fly? Do you sign it off? What does that signature mean for you?

I would probably think they would do a preflight while sitting around before the freight arrives, so they can leave as soon as they are loaded. I don’t do a walkaround after all the cargo doors are closed and everyone is done servicing the airplane

 

[Wardogg]

View attachment 81107

Have you tried more right rudder.

 

[Itchy]

I'm confused. If a pilot has completed their preflight how does a fairing impede elevator control during or after take off? I'm not an advocate for Hawaiian ground ops (I have stories) but if your supposition is true doesn't it weigh even more heavily to do a thorough preflight? Someone is responsible for this egregious loss of control, but assuming it's a failure on the ground handler seems presumptive. Do you walk around and look at that the airplanes you fly? Do you sign it off? What does that signature mean for you?

I guess you’re not reading. Can’t understand why you would be confused. A can hits a fairing, it pivots back into elevator. Person who bumped airplane with can reaches up and pushes fairing into place. Later, innocent pilot begins takeoff roll, and fairing once again pivots back, jams rudder. Alert pilot realizes his pitch control no longer moves and aborts t/o.

My goodness, hope that clears it up for you.

 

[Itchy]

Gust lock?

That would be pretty surprising, the gust lock holds the column in a pretty (as almost fully) nose down position.

 

[Wardogg]

That would be pretty surprising, the gust lock holds the column in a pretty (as almost fully) nose down position.

What about for the rudder?

 

[Itchy]

What about for the rudder?

A spring loaded lever that keeps it centered, activated by flipping a lever at the tail. It is released there, or by pulling the control column back if you forgot.

 

[Itchy]

I guess you’re not reading. Can’t understand why you would be confused. A can hits a fairing, it pivots back into elevator. Person who bumped airplane with can reaches up and pushes fairing into place. Later, innocent pilot begins takeoff roll, and fairing once again pivots back, jams rudder. Alert pilot realizes his pitch control no longer moves and aborts t/o.

My goodness, hope that clears it up for you.

Meant to say, jams elevator. Not rudder.

 

[Wardogg]

A spring loaded lever that keeps it centered, activated by flipping a lever at the tail. It is released there, or by pulling the control column back if you forgot.

Looking at the adsb track this was an immediate left turn off the runway that just got progressively worse.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Gust lock?

Hot day, heavy load, improper take-off config, (trim, flaps), premature rotation … add a turn.

Of course, it could be anything and we may never know for sure.