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phrog catches fire

One of the posts below it states:

This happened in Sept of 1998 aboard the
"Bonhomer Richard", pronounced with a
french dialect. My squadron was HMM-164 and I was
a CH-46 Helo Mech. We were supporting Operation
Urban Warrior off the Monterey coast in
California. This bird was taking media crews back
and forth from land to the carrier all day and at
this moment they were leaving to go back to shore.
I was in the chow hall aboard the Bonhomer
"Dick" when this happened. CH-46
crewchief Sgt. Beyers received smoke inhalation
while saving these people and was treated at the
scene. For his actions "under fire", no
pun intended, he received a Certificate of
comendation and a "NAM". After
investigating, it was found that a pinhole in one
of the aft transmission lines was
atomizing(spraying) fluid and the spray was being
sucked into the aft generator and this caused the
fire. Transmission fluid is not flammable in large
quantities but when atomized it is very flammable.
The aft portion of this bird was completely
destroyed and had to be removed and replaced.
After 9 months of rebuilding this bird was put
back into the fleet and renumbered. Before the
fire it was #07 and after we got it back it was
#15.
Cpl Petree USMC 97-02
Click to expand...
 
Boys and girls if you ever had any doubt as to the severity and rapid proliferation of an aircraft fire this should really sober you up! Did you notice how the fire moved forward rapidly? The ramp was useless as an exit... the smoke woiuld have increased from wire bundle insulation, hydraulic fluid, and cabin sound proofing.

Did they pull the T-Handles and discharge agent? Anyone know if that was effective?

Had a very similar situation - only on shutdown - a steel fuel control line ruptured spreading high pressure atomized fuel in engine bays. The fire walls and engine bay doors didn't do squat. T-handles and a prompt shutdown squelched it immediatly. Ugh

This video gives me the creeps!

EDIT: Just read the comments about cause re: xmsn fluid. I had no idea xmsn fluid was flammable - but when put in an aersosol I guess it makes sense. One more thing for Phrog guys/gals to worry about in bed!
 
Good thing it happened at the point of lift off. I can't imagine how much that would suck if they had been in flight.
 
flysupertomcat said:
Good thing it happened at the point of lift off. I can't imagine how much that would suck if they had been in flight.
Click to expand...

If it would have occurred anywhere else, it's called LAND IMMEDIATELY. AKA a "ditch." Probable that some of the passengers/civilians would not have made it out. Dangerous business we're in.
 
if i can sidetrack the convo

Just finishing up API and heading up to Whiting and we've been hearing rumors that the USMC is going to keep the CH-46 around longer now, due to the fact that the MV-22 can't be supported by the cobra , harrier, etc... I dont want to bash on the 46 guys out there, but come on, its time and if the MV-22 cant do the job, then we need to pony up and get some 60s. The navy could just hand some down:icon_wink
 
Lazy8s said:
Just finishing up API and heading up to Whiting and we've been hearing rumors that the USMC is going to keep the CH-46 around longer now, due to the fact that the MV-22 can't be supported by the cobra , harrier, etc... I dont want to bash on the 46 guys out there, but come on, its time and if the MV-22 cant do the job, then we need to pony up and get some 60s. The navy could just hand some down:icon_wink
Click to expand...

The API rumor mill...about as accurate as Michael J. Fox in a knife-throwing contest. The 46 is not being kept longer because the V-22 "can't be supported by the cobra, harrier, etc." That's students who don't know which end of an aircraft points forward drinking beers and engaging in idle speculation.

I am not going to let this digress into a discussion on V-22 escort requirements or on the Osprey itself. First, it's not the right thread--start a new one, threadjacker. Second, you may as well argue the merits of the sun coming up tomorrow, because the V-22 is going to happen, like it or not. Third, the V-22 will do the job just fine. Some of our brothers will be downrange proving that in just a couple of weeks.

The 46 is old. That's a no-brainer. But, it does the job within the constraints of the airframe's intrinsic limitations. Employed within those, it does pretty well. I'll wager the Army's lost a lot more 60s than we have 46s, even counting the proportional difference in total numbers. Replace it with a 1970s-vintage platform (H60) or a 2000-vintage airframe(V22)--your choice. Keep in mind that adding a new aircraft like the 60, even off the shelf, isn't just a matter of writing the check and riding into battle on your new steeds. Parts, training for crew and maintainers, etc are huge. You could wait 3-6 years for 60s, even if you cancelled the V-22 tomorrow.
 
all good news. I see you are in the FRS for the MV-22 so you know. Like you said stupid rumors. thanks for the gouge

Semper Fi
 
Latest news is that the Phrog is getting some cosmetic upgrades to make it a bit more comfortable up front (new seats) and some extra gear that makes it more survivable in combat. I don't see them getting rid of it any time soon.
 
I love how the civilian camera operator is in the way putting everyone in peril! Is my assessment correct on the video?
 
Well, there's an article on our read board that shows the new seats and describes them as having lumbar support already added in as well as padding for the back. I don't know if we'll actually end up getting those anytime soon.

and for the video... yeah, I noticed that the camera guy was more interested in the fire than anything else....
 
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