Franklin
Federal safety report reveals damage to plane
Parker H. Tyler, 62, of Skowhegan, the pilot, suffered minor injuries and walked away after his single-engine float plane crashed in a field 300 to 400 feet off the road while trying to land on Egypt Pond.
The Federal Aviation Administration classified the crash of the Smith PA18 replica as an accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a factual account on Monday of what happened from the pilot's perspective but has not released a report on the probable cause. According to the report, the pilot stated he was turning in preparation for a water landing with his float-equipped airplane. He reported the airspeed was 60 miles per hour. During the turn, at approximately 30 to 40 feet above the trees, the airplane began to sink and the left wing and nose dropped, the report states.
The pilot further stated he had no time to recover because the aircraft hit trees and then the ground. He also stated that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the plane. The pilot explained that this accident may have been prevented if he performed a steeper approach with increased airspeed, according to the report.
The pilot reported that he had 2,070 hours of total flight experience, of which 172 hours were in the Smith PA18 replica configured with floats. The recorded wind at an airport 15 nautical miles south southeast, about the time of the accident, was variable at 4 knots; however, the pilot reported rain showers in the vicinity accompanied by "rolling turbulence from the nearby hills," the report states.
Review of recorded weather at approximately the time and within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the accident site did not reveal precipitation or wind gusts, according to the report.
Franklin County Sheriff Department deputies, Chesterville and Mt. Vernon firefighters and other emergency personnel were first on the scene of the plane crash on private property in July.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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verified on "An impassioned, diverse dialogue on wind power"
Numbers and Nimbys
One gentleman asked for published, peer-reviewed information on wind power. He was told, correctly, that such information can be hard to get, although there is of course published work showing serious effects on bird and bat populations. However, one source does come to mind: the US Energy Information Administration. They publish information about how much money we spend as taxpayers to support various forms of energy, and it can be quite interesting. For instance, natural gas gets $0.25 per MWh; coal gets $0.44. The owners of industrial wind turbines get $23.37/MWh.
Does that answer anyone's questions about why Angus King et al are working so hard to get in on this racket?
If the SJ thinks that windpower is a valuable part of the mix, and that subsidies are important, perhaps the answer is to have a level playing field here. And incidentally, according to the head of ISO-New England, wind turbines are so spread out over the landscape as to require a massive investment in transmission lines with an estimated cost of $19-25 Billion.... we would be paying for that, of course, on our electric bills. And paying again in terms of lost tourism revenue.
Another item that has come up here is the usual accusation about anti-windpower people just being a bunch of NIMBYs. Well, I can't speak for others but I sure hope I'm one! Love, charity, and caring for one's neighborhood are virtues that begin at home, and then hopefully go out to encompass more and more of the world and its people. I think it's high time people quit using this as an insult-- it's like sneering at someone for loving his mother.
However there is a kind of NIMBY that deserves the perjorative use of the term, and that is one who supports an activity as long as it's in someone else's backyard, not his. Thinking of the Natural Resources Council of Maine here... I'm not a member any more!
I've read a lot of words from Maine people who are fighting industrial wind, but have never heard one say it was fine as long as somebody else had to suffer, not them. So please, if you want to use the term make sure you use it wisely.
verified on "Car rolls over on Ash Street in Lewiston"
Isn't this a ONE lane street?
I'm relieved to hear that she is okay but didn't the city make this a one lane street now? It used to be two but since they did some road work, it is now lined as one lane. And did the 'passing' car stop to help or did they continue driving off, knowing full and well that they were in the wrong?? Charges need to be filed. This could've cost this poor woman her life or even who knows what else harm it could've caused!
verified on "Former director Violette pleads guilty in turnpike corruption case"
Remorse????
What a joke Paul is showing remorse, I hope he gets what he deserves 20 years.
He robbed from the tax payers of Maine and thought he was untouchable.
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