Disaster Strikes As Buffalo Airways C-46 Plane's Engine Is Shredded | Ice Pilots NWT | Wonder
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- čas přidán 8. 08. 2022
- This season of Ice Pilots NWT, the harshest winter in 22 years is causing havoc for the operations run from Buffalo Airways. From collapsing planes to slipping on ice, every job is made far more difficult with this unprecedented cold snap.
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Buffalo Airways is an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. They mainly fly WWII-era piston powered propeller planes in minus 40 degrees and land on tiny strips of tarmac in the tundra.
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#wonder #documentary #icepilots - Zábava
When you are that far up north, saying "this is the coldest winter in 22 years" is quite a powerful statement.
I´m of the 1957 Sputnik gang. As half a Saxon with iconc memory (like Karajan) I was full online winter 62/63 when people rembered both World War I and II, the starving after German capitulation. Sunnyboy not beeing part of this nightmare, me and the older survivors just had some fun with extreme cold. The assassination in Dallas made this winter be forgotten all too soon. All these little flowers, bees, Libelluloidea, yes, we had them in Northrhine Westfalia, came out that tragic summer promising a better world. Happy times at the Westerbach with treefrogs around and a little trout my sandbox compaignion caught with his bare hand.
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@@danieltrottier8599 Winters up that far north are normally brutally cold with temperatures dipping down to -30, -40, -50 below. So when someone up there says they are having a colder than normal winter you know that it is quite severe.
Spent 50 yrs in aviation maintenance. Two things stand out. Too much pressure and a lapse in tool control. It happens, but luckily no injuries and hopefully lessons learned.
Yeah. Almost an act of god really that a guy with Chucks experience managed that. He must have felt terrible. Sending him home was a good idea.
I hate to say it but back in the 90's when I was an aircraft mechanic it was an unwritten rule that we never put our name/initials on our tools.
I feel bad for Chuck. We are all human and make mistakes. Ours just don't end that badly.
He may have a temper at times but Chuck is a good soul, we all make mistakes and I can't even begin to imagine the thoughts and guilt he was processing :/
All you guys are the other type of Heroes...God bless you and protect you all.
Madness to still be brushing wings by hand, the risk of slipping, falling and breaking bones is big. Takes about 1 or 2 accidents before a second hand or even a DIY deicing truck is cheaper
The unfortunate outcome of complacency. Watching Chuck as many years as I have... we can rest assured that it's not going to happen again.
Did he leave the hammer in the work area did it bounce loose from a tool box, was it used for cargo and get misplaced. You have to tried figure out how it got left behind and when. Those planes don't fly without a full time mechanic .
@@johnwinner8511 It was left by another mechanic I believe up in the engine cowling after an engine replacement. Chuck signed off on that job.
I think Chuck saw the hammer, subconsciously. That hunch was so spot on, In the back of his mind he knew something was wrong. Unfortunately, as humans are prone to do, things we can't really figure out on the spot when on a tight schedule usually gets forgotten. But I agree, it probably was the first and last time.
The jug splitting is the usual problems with parts failing. And as the parts get older the problems will keep getting worse. As for tools getting lost or misplaced , damn straight it should not happen. But with small private-commercial carriers pressures are interesting to say the least. Always some one standing over you demanding you do a 3 day job in 1 or 2 so things can and do get overlooked. I know every one expects perfect, but no one can deliver, No one. I hope Chuck is doing well.
Surprised Joe didn't fire Chuck! I wish trhe videos could be seen in order. People come and go, planes come and go but there's no continuity. It gets confusing.
Its not every day you can fire a mechanic experienced with 70 year old aircraft maintenance and building. You can bet Chuck will not make that mistake again. And Joe can not easily replace him.
Amazon prime has them in order
Thankfully aviation doctrine is supposed to be " don't blame the person, blame the programme". Firing chuck would not have stopped that happening again. Developing a tool control programme is what hopefully prevents a rerun. Unfortunately this is not always the case.
Chuck has saved him morre than 100 thousand dollars in saves. Whole airplanes. Cargo loads. If a doctor loses one patient do you kick him to the curb? I wouldnt want you for a judge or jury.condemn too hastily.
If I were Joe, first I’d sell off that stupid car collection to buy a deicing truck or build another hangar, then I’d fire Chuck as “Chief Mechanic” for not verifying a tool inventory after a major repair! That is career ending in the US!
Such a fantastic series, in the north country roads are not even remotely practical, therefor aviation has to pick up the slack, it's the same way in Alaska. Unlike the lower 48 in the states, aviation is necessary in the north country, and that makes a world of difference for the respect you carry for the skill of these people.
I know this stuff can happen, but there are safety systems for this. Tool controle Before and after the job.
Spot on. This is exactly why mil aviation has tool accountability in place. I'm amazed a commercial aviation operation that does their own maintenance doesn't do that. Also,... wonder what the Transportation Safety Board of Canada had to say.
Just like in operating room. Count instruments when surgery is over. Retractors & scissors have been left inside patients body. Recut to remove later.
Not just anyone would take on the rigors involved in Arctic operation of antique equipment.
Including Joe's bs!
Im a Marine Infantry veteran and I sure wouldnt!! God Bless them all
I took a car in for service at a pontiac - saturn - saab - isuzu dealer to have the alternator replaced, and when the keys were handed back to me, there was a vibration noise coming from the engine, really bad rattle... sounded like the camshaft had disintergrated one of its lobes....call CAA for a tow truck...standing there with the hood open, three people staring at the engine... and I ask "who's crowbar is that sitting on the cylinder head ?".
I have seen 985's and 1340 cylinders break like that. Problem is the chrome process. They soak it in acid and the acid cracks start where the steel meets the aluminium. I wish some one would make new jugs!
Another issue is that these aircraft are operating in extreme cold and estreme cold will affect the metal over time and possibly cause issues that the designe engineers never allowed for. to prevent this kind of issue of tools left in the aircraft the ground crew should implement the kind of system that hospital surgeries use where every tool every swab etc is counted before and after any work done.
“I have a feeling something is wrong”.
Yeah bud, I trust your instincts.
Hmmmmmm, just sayin.🤷🏻♂️
My dad was a member of Chennault’s 14th AF, 322nd Troop Carrier Squadron. During his travel to Kunming, China he missed his ship out of Oran, Algiers. A good thing for him, the HMT Rhona was sunk in the mediterranean by a luftwaffe launched radio controlled bomb with loss of about 1,000 Americans. He finally made it to India by himself and flew the hump on a C46. The pilots aborted take off twice because of fouled plugs and dad and the pilots changed all spark plugs twice. They made it out on their third try. Dad made it home after the war in December of 1945, by ship into San Francisco. He’s gone now but Im sure if he could see one these old C 46 Commandos it would have put a smile on his face.
Heated hangars cost a million bucks, opening the hangar door costs a million bucks, deicing costs a million bucks, busted airplanes cost a million bucks. Cold weather operations are just tough. Nothing good happens at -40.
Tools can show up at the next 100hr or annual inspection. Flew my ag plane a full year in the back end by the elevator push rod. At the next annual I was taking panels off found a large 6 volt flashlight in there. No one in the shop would claim it. Lucky it did not jam the elevator.
Imagine that all the people who built that aircraft are long dead but it's still flying. Rare for mechanical stuff.
...that crane driver must be getting rich lifting all those buffaloes off the runway
That de icing ‘method’ is crazy dangerous and inefficient. What would OSHA say ?
de icing trucks would surely be a justified expenditure, pardon if impertinent on some level.
OSHA has no authourity outside of the USA. Worker health and safety in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is the responsibility of the WSCC (the workers safety and compensation commission)
@@caatrs04 I was thinking Buffalo NY.
@@thomasjordan5578 no they are based out of Canada bud
They need to sell a few of those high dollar collectable cars and buy a de-icing truck!
@@robberes6799
Intellect over emotion, priorities. Also antique de icing trucks may be an economical option, somebody tell those guys before they break their necks 🤣
Wow I love this
FOD was drilled into us, every tool numbered and acounted for, otherwise the jet didn't fly.
Yes spot on. The only way to operate a business but lost my wife to FOD as she chose the vibratory toys over me & same sort of outcome. Her flaps were always up and her landing gear down
Same here, back in my Air Force crew chiefin’ days we always checked our tool boxes before we went to the line and after we finished on the line, then we had to turn them into the tool crib who had someone come inspect the toolbox then as well. Having cutouts for every tool or case that held tools made it very obvious when something was missing.
@@ZAN-THE-GOAT Poor guy.
@@adozer6848 better for it now- she has major health issues and no help. Before when she was with me, I was working in the mines with all health care for family paid for as well
@@ZAN-THE-GOAT sounds like she let the good one get away. I’m divorced, my ex and I still talk on occasion, I seriously think we are both better off now. Her new guy gives her the love I didn’t. My girl gives me the things I needed that I wasn’t getting from my marriage. Of note I met my girl after my divorce was final. I have a clear conscience, the ex…not so much.
great....
When you run planes in such extreme cold weather, you should have enough hangar space to store these planes, especially planes with no deicing system! But don’t exploit these young guys their needs for hours, to pursue their pilot careers, no one should step on an icy aircraft wing to clean it, that’s a serious safety issue !!
Deicing or anti icing. Airliners have anti icing systems but still have to be deiced before takeoff. But hey lets just make planes out of the same material as the black boxes. Right?
I have worked for trucking companies keeping old trucks going I can’t imagine airplanes
Working in an RAF hangar, every tool sat on a dayglo shadow board and each worker had his own tag when taking out a tool. Missing tool, aircraft doesn’t fly.
This kids asked great questions
Crazy world we live in
I have a question and a comment. I hope you might take a couple of minutes for them. Here I go: Buffalo's been in business, why wouldn't you have a de-Icing truck or equipment to thaw out the aircraft in the extremely long winters in "The Great White North". I know that equipment has got to be costly, but so are delays and even more important, work place injuries. Falling off à ladder trying to clean snow and ice off à DC-4 or C-46 has got to hurt.
My comment If I may, I've been a long time viewer and love the show. On this episode, which aired 8 hours ago, shows Yellowknife in the dead of winter, yet it's summertime in C eh?! Neh?! D eh?! Could you include the date the videos were actually took place?
Love the show, employees and issues of running à successful company. Really enjoy watching all the side stories too. FLY SAFE and I'll stay tuned in. Greetings from Glendale, Arizona USA!
This episode would’ve been filmed in about November 2012, with the episode airing a year later. Don’t know what they’ve got these days
My guess is Joe wont spend the money for a de-icing truck . To have a employee walking on a icy wing is crazy . How many have fallen off and been hurt ?
It's pretty expensive..don't know about today..but back in 2012 when this was filmed...it cost them 4500 just to de Ice the Electra once..
How expensive is it to pay à Workmans Comp claim if someone falls and breaks their neck?!
@@Northern_Farmer Did they de-ice by mop and bucket, or did they get it sprayed? Because hours spent to do that by hand vs getting the aircraft sprayed?
Gee, I live in aus so I think 5˚ is cold. My god tho, -44˚ is ludicrous. Also, London is 39˚ and that's nothing here but I reckon 25 would be a lot for you guys
Thanks. Ey. Somehow, I still want a ride in a Buffalo airplane. But during your... what? ... one day of summer? Probably already passed.
With all the falls, why don't they buy a deicing truck? Buffalo claims they are all about safety, but that's not true.
Expensive as sin. Only requirement for deicing is pre departure, and the airports handle that. Well, they should. They could always contract it out otherwise, but ya know, money.
@@jaysmith1408 -Money wins out over safety.
does anyone know if that veely that gets ad at the beginning works for ice pilots now if it has the episodes? i think i tried it and i didn't but idk
Veely worked for me. They used to be on prime video too.
@@Nick-gs2mw ohok.did you download from playstore or on browser? will try again
Yes it has the episodes
That reminds me of reeve Aleutian airways in the seventys in cold bay alaska the good old days
32:55 that there is error on maintenance. My guess is one of the mechanics didn't make sure he had all his tools accounted for when he finished his job. Me being an A&P, I have drilled a lot of knowledge and procedures into my brain, and one is to make sure I take everyone of my tools out of an aircraft that I worked on before it goes out. And even before I leave work I double check all my tools are accounted for, even if it's a tool I didn't use, I still double check. Tool accountability is extremely important.
Hey I’ve wached you for a while I’ve studied planes for 7 years a s you teach me so much about planes
Lori farland is 😍😍😍
accurate/ high resolution load cell will tell you if your tool box is light
i guess u couldent just replace the prop. on the 46. i had a teacher when i was in the 8th grade that was a mechanic on b 17s in england durin ww2. he said when one of those bellied in an a prop hit the runway with the engine runnin it had to be replaced.
Why didn't they shut down and feather props on the "no gear down" side? Bad decision.... Or was it 3 green and this happened after landing?
It happened at 30 knots on runway after landing. The video stated that. Did you see the whole thing?
@@sharoncassell9358 Maybe i was absent for a moment...
Chuck knew he gets rushed along
It’s time to replace the birds cost you more money if you saw Dornier 228 or 332 👍🇨🇦
Since Chuck kinda knew the whole time that something was amiss, I kinda think Chuck kinda remembered losing the hammer and where he lost it...
Prop strike....that is the Nutt cracker
We call step ladders like that widowmakers. Joe needs new ladders.
....buffallo is phenomenal, they just keep going, and delivering, whatever it takes. but a de-icing truck would really save time, money and energy... the whole company needs a holiday and newer planes.....
Well I heard that buffalo airways is getting a boeing 737 300 soon in their fleet (they already brought it, the plane takes time to get ready and such)
The entire approach to that was absurdly dangerous. It's lucky nobody was severely injured. I suspect there are a dozen different workplace safety rules that were violated with people walking on ice aircraft without restraints and over 12 feet to concrete.
@@k53847 They will need to adhere to safety protocols strictly. Its alwasy best to do so, for the longevity of the company
There's a reason for the old planes.. New ones don't like gravel..
@@CourageTheCowardlyDog266 yeah.
Is there ever a warm day in yellowknife?
seems that was a warm day.... at least for Yellowknife...
heat is relative... someone living in a general -20 or lower will be cosidering 5c hot but someone living at 40c 5c is freezing
The day the mosquitos come out as big as a raven.
Yes may to september. They showed the rebuilt plane june 6 in t shirts at Osh cosh.
I saw 2 Lynden L-382s in this episode , do they not realize theses are for sale, and I guaranty Herc parts are cheaper, plus you can haul more in one trip than 2 1/2 that these relics move, and still get short field capes!!
Or invest in hangars to put the birds that are flying the next dat in! 🤦🏻♂️
Watch Mike's channel...he explains why its not economical or feasible
I have been watching for a long time and these planes are far beyond there useful life imo
Editing and find better ones for what they do.
They are perfect for the north. Most of the landing strips they use are horrendous and have almost no services or equipment. There are almost no modern aircraft your typical airline could afford that are fit for this kind of work. Back a couple series Arnie landed a heavily laden DC-3 on a strip that was basically just some DIY job a guy with a hunting lodge built. It was sand and not particularly compact. Besides a few specialised military aircraft like the Hercules there is nothing out there you can use for that kind of job. That is what flying in the north is about.
Buffalo airlines should be grounded. Every time these guys fly there's an emergency!!!
Ever heard of editing?
A guy like church Ben around he knows if he gets a bad feel
Buffalo Joe "There is nothing you can do once its done". How about actually supplying the tools and setting up a proper tool control system? Then guys like Chuck wouldn't be working out of a toolbox I wouldn't allow in my automotive service shop.
So sad that Kelly passed...
Tool logs are important, even just working on a car, I log everything, it takes seconds to write down, and tick off once finished. I believe they need to have more SOP’s in place at Buffalo Airways before they injure or kill someone. Appoint Work, health and safety officers & on large jobs create a risk assessment sheet, we call ours JSEA’s = Job Steam Environment Assessments that not just takes into account all work that needs to be done but the environment impact that could occur as well if say fuel was to leak into the town water supply etc
My garage tool chest has cut-outs for all tools, plus I make sure I put them back immediately after using them. Learned that as an aircraft weapons mechanic for 4 years before I started flying in the USAF.
@@robberes6799 yes,it is the engineers own responsibility to do a loose article check when he completes a job and puts the cowlings on,and check his own tool box .
Once i had my car fixed and went home only to find a balljoint separator on the back seat. It served me well on prying things but when i went back to return the tool the mechanic was no longer there.???
Buffalo staff treatment is pethatic and degrading
Really? Ever worked for a small family co? Also why dont you fight work better workers rights then? Cause at least in USA if you dont have a union contract employers can do as they wish pretty much. Yeah not blatantly but corporations are smart and have effected laws for decades. Making profits ezer and exploiting workers easier. So go out get educated and stop complaining on youtube
They need to invest in a de-icing truck.
@Blue Penguin Maybe Joe should sell off his collection of Mercury cars . Use that money for a de-icing truck . It is a matter if time there would be a serious injury .
@Blue Penguin lol I saw Joe on Mike's channel last week hahaha
@Blue Penguin Joe isn't dead mate.
Is this a new episode?
Old..they were filmed back in 2012
Last thing you want to hear from a pilot is, "Fingers crossed."
C46 should be sold if possible and Buffalo should consider buying another option
No planes that are more durable and reliant than C46.
.. .Pepsi and Coke are waiting for pop can material
@@alexandernev24 Maybe then the cans won't burst open at the slightest tap.
Pfft..that 46 has outlasted every plsne there is..
@@Northern_Farmer that's because they spent their lives on the ground instead of in the air.
Buffalo Airways is well known for it's safety issues and near catastrophes.
Idk how they are still able to legally fly!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Chris has not flown in space in a long time another gear problem sigh
Один самолет распиздячили, ничего у нас еще есть второй 😂
The way chuck was acting it almost sounds like he forgot to do something maybe bleed the hydros
what is it with planes and there gears first it was the electra now the c46 whats next the dc3
DC3 has the best safety record, but who knows
@@davidellinsworth22 you ever heard of a joke?
My son returned from working in Canada for six years, finally giving up after experiencing the worst working conditions and labour laws of all the countries he has worked in. No job security, prejudice against foreigners, no compensation for work injuries, pathetic wage rates, no paid leave...the list is too long. Its as bad as the USA. If you want to earn good money and in a regulatory regime that values workplace fairness and safety, you can't beat Australia.
Or new management
80 year old planes do have issues
Sorry Chuck /
Wè forgive you. S... happens to all of us. Yo'ure worth the hundred thou.
Surprised they never bought a C130 for all their cargo needs..
It is time for that two bit airline to cease operations. Their safety record is rotten.
Would you believe me if I told you that normal straight/level flight is really uninteresting TV? Because that's what 99.9% of the footage is.
@@CourageTheCowardlyDog266 He is clueless
Sure these planes are nostalgic but I mean geez they spend more time on the ground it seems. Silly
They need a de-icing truck. Even if it's the sh*tbox of de-icing trucks it'd make their lives much easier.
Why do they use old turboprop plane not jet engine plane ?
Cost per hour. It cost way more to run a jet per hour. The older plains cost a lot less to run 20 or 30 years ago there were a lot of parts for the old plains around not so much now. A small jet is 3 or 4 million or more and can't land in many places the old pains can land. some of the bigger war birds can be had for 2 to 300 thousand 1/10 the cost of a jet..
@@blackjackmaster1432 thx for the info
I think prayer would serve better than the bad words...
Swearing is an outlet rather than punching someone or something or kicking the dog or cat. Oh they pray too. Alot.
Who is responsible for letting this company to fly plainy
Glad my initials aren't on that hammer.
Whose hammer was it anyway?
What gets me is, why they, didn't use the 2nd Commando first as funny thry, just get in it and go
I could fix it.
As a crew chief in the u s Air Force there were always rules and accountability all tools had to be accounted for no exceptions. Accountability and rules seem to be scarce short cuts are ok as long as the plane is in the air making money. All I can go by is what is shown on tv but this company is a disaster waiting to happen
I mean, what do they expect? You have 70-year-old aircraft that are going to break. Joe needs to buy some newer planes if he doesn’t want delays.
25 years of Naval avaition maintenance here. Easy to tell from the comments who and who hasn't turned a wrench on an aircraft. Yes, Buffalo performs a vital service but brushing off this type of error is dangerous and will get people killed. Most of the comments are on point concerning tool control. In the military, this would be a career killer.
No process in place, it' like they have never done it before. Dramatic, yes, smart no
You’re operating at an airport with no IDs
With a gear collapse why wasn’t the FAA notified & involved and also the Canadian civil aviation authority because technically this is considered as an aircraft accident this airline should be shut down because they are cutting a lot of corners smh
Well you're gonna need to throw out the FAA because that's a whole different country and different governmental organization. And two the cutting corners is a bit vague. They've been in operation for many years long before many of us were born. Shutting down a cargo airline that is the lifeblood of remote settlements in that part of Canada is not an option. Yes I am sure the obvious answer is to use jets and turboprop aircraft. But you're talking about millions and millions of dollars to replace a fleet, upgrade facilities for maintenance of the new aircraft and training pilots. I'm pretty sure Joe and his company don't have that kinda money laying around. Even if they sold their old warbirds turned cargo haulers.
Connecting directly to Space Station LOL on which NASA Stage?
How much did it cost me to payload a guitar, gorilla suit and football jerseys?
Rush rush rush, too many jobs, too much pressure, 70 years old aircraft, it's ridiculous. Sell all those piles of junk and get a couple of modern half decent planes
can we get at least one of these like survival story's i should't be alive or prison break or mastermind criminals or pet heros please the plans become annoying
So none of the crew on board has a cell phone or wacky talkie?
They did. They didnot answer.Mikey said when it's really cold the signal decsays.
@@sharoncassell9358 That's what signal boosters are for.
A "fundraiser?" So now you guys are a bloody charity?
why would anyone want to work there
We can fix that with glue and duct tape.
Granted I don’t know what deicing equipment costs but I can’t imagine the Canadian government allowing such unsafe working conditions. Ridiculous
I think it was 4500 bucks to de ice the Electra once..
Plenty of used deicing equipment on the market. Zero excuse for someone having to walk on the wings.
I worked for the largest airline in the world, it is around $250-300,000 for a de-icing truck brand new, they are still 6 digits used. The De-icing fluid costs a fortune in itself. A small operation could never carry the cost. Generally you also have to buy 2 everything you use in aviation needs to be bought in pairs. They last forever so finding a functional one used would be difficult
@@jasoncentore1830 They are not 6 digits used dude. You don’t need that type of deicing truck for their operation. We had 3 trucks that we got for less then 40k you have a boom instead of a inclosed space. A little colder but having the manual nozzle is much better IMO.
Why couldn't Chuck and the rest of the engineer's cobble together a steam heater pressure washer with a big tank of glycol and fashion them selves a heated deicer that mounts on a trailer that the tugs can pull around, or pick up a truck with a man lift. There are numerous solutions here that would be far safer and effective than someone walking on a wing with a mop! Just the lost revenue from the plane being 4 hour late would pay for it in no time. There's just no thinking outside the box. Instead what you have are a bunch of surfs living in fear of the kings wraft and trying to simply remain in Joes good graces. Joe's temper is the reason Buffalo remains stagnant.
Also why don't they build some additional open air hangars where the current aircraft could be stored under cover.
How do they not get load shift issues since they don’t restrain their cargo? Canada is too lax!
@Blue Penguin Sorry, I was a USAF Loadmaster for 23 years and now 6 on the civilian side. If I got “ramp checked” by the FAA with as much as an unrestrained calk, I’d be in trouble. The Air Force was even worse.
You need better planes
Just maybe it is time for some newer tired old junk.