By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Reading: Cargolux 747-8F at High Risk of Explosion!
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Copyright © Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2024 | All Rights Reserved
Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Cargolux 747-8F at High Risk of Explosion!

Cargolux 747-8F at High Risk of Explosion!

Jake Smith
Last updated: 12 July 2018 07:13
By Jake Smith 5 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Failure to defuel a helicopter shipped in a Cargolux 747-8F presents a high risk of explosion to the aircraft.

The Bell 412EP helicopter with the fuel leak, destined to be shipped to Germany, was being transported on the 747 from Houston to Luxembourg on 30 March last year. With a planned intermediate stop in Glasgow Prestwick.

Summary
Failure to defuel a helicopter shipped in a Cargolux 747-8F presents a high risk of explosion to the aircraft.The helicopter, serial number 36414, had been bought by Germany’s Agrarflug Helilift from Bristow US. The inquiry says that the opportunity to check that the helicopter had been defuelled prior to transport was not taken.The five-year old 747-8F (LX-VCF) suffered extensive fuel contamination. Internal floor, ceiling and sidewall panels were lifted and damaged insulation blankets were removed. Aircraft electronics and avionics wiring required decontamination.

Ground crews at Prestwick discovered a fuel leak from the helicopter and emergency personnel, summoned to the scene. They found fuel pooling beneath the jet. It had leaked from the main deck, through the lower deck and avionics bay.

Firefighters stated that measured fuel vapour levels “indicated a high risk of explosion” and fuel flammability limits were “potentially in range”. Some 255kg of fuel or 322 litres had escaped from the helicopter during the transatlantic flight.

Before being shipped, the inquiry says, the helicopter spent two months in storage in Houston, without problems. There was no evidence of a fuel system issue.

Investigators point out that the helicopter’s structure was shrink-wrapped for transport. The probe suggests the manner in which its fuel vents were wrapped could have resulted in a siphon effect or a temporary deformation of the fuel cells as cabin pressure changed. Causing fuel to be ejected from the forward right-hand vent, which had been left exposed.

The helicopter, serial number 36414, had been bought by Germany’s Agrarflug Helilift from Bristow US. The inquiry says that the opportunity to check that the helicopter had been defuelled prior to transport was not taken.

Investigators state that the buyer assumed the seller would disassemble and prepare the helicopter for shipping in accordance with guidelines from the helicopter’s manufacturer. Which recommended defuelling. The seller considered that all transportation matters were the buyer’s responsibility. Although the seller was aware that the helicopter was being shipped as air cargo.

“Neither the seller’s staff undertaking the disassembly, nor the buyer’s representatives who were subsequently in attendance. They identified the fact that a substantial amount of fuel remained on board the helicopter prior to it being packaged,” says the inquiry. Which also points out that the shrink-wrap packaging procedure involved using an open-flame torch.

It had been loaded onto another Cargolux flight, three days before the Prestwick incident, but the loading supervisor noticed a small fuel leak. The helicopter was offloaded and returned to the warehouse. Video surveillance shows that, the following day, the helicopter was subjected to a 30min inspection at a cargo facility. This was conducted by a mechanic, shipping agent and ground-handling agent. No walk-around was performed and the mechanic did not use any tools to remove the shrink-wrap on the helicopter. Instead they just inserted some absorbent pads and informing relevant parties that the leak had originated from residual fuel in the lines.

As a result, they issued a certificate stating the helicopter had been purged of all fluids and was not considered dangerous goods. There was a “dilution of responsibility” among the various individuals and organisations charged with shipping the helicopter, says the inquiry.

“No single organisation or individual was able to assure that the shipping documentation reflected the actual condition of the helicopter,” it adds.

The five-year old 747-8F (LX-VCF) suffered extensive fuel contamination. Internal floor, ceiling and sidewall panels were lifted and damaged insulation blankets were removed. Aircraft electronics and avionics wiring required decontamination.

It was ferried back to its home base on 11 April, nearly two weeks after the event. It underwent further measures to restore it to full airworthiness. Including replacement of insulation blankets, panels, and parts of the cargo-loading system. The aircraft was also inspected, cleaned and treated with corrosion-inhibiting fluid.

 

© Brandon Magnani

© Bell Helicopters

You Might Also Like

Emirates to Reintroduce Damascus Flights Starting July 16

Tourism Season Lost in Turkey as 4000 Hotels Face Closure

Busiest Airline and Aircraft for Air Travel in 2025

Emirates re-enters FIFA 2025: A new partnership with Al Ain FC

Menzies Aviation: ‘All In’ Sustainability Ground Handling Services

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link
What’s your thoughts?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Angry0
Jake Smith
By Jake Smith
Director of Special Projects - Jake is an experienced aviation journalist and strategic leader, regularly contributing to the commercial aviation section of Travel Radar alongside leading strategy and innovation including livestreaming and our store.
Previous Article Jazz Operated Damaged Aircraft after a Hard Landing
Next Article Air Force One Enroute to the UK
Leave a comment
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Trending News

IATA Awards 2025
2025 IATA Diversity and Inclusion Award Winners Revealed
Aviation Careers Did You Know
A Photo of a Departing FedEx Airplane
FedEx and Neste Launch Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative
Airline Economics Airlines Aviation
Garmin SmartCharts
Garmin Simplifies Aviation Charting with SmartCharts
Aviation Technology Travel
Tourists walking at an airport to show international tourist arrival
World tourism soars: International tourist arrivals up 5% in 2025
Airports Travel
A Cathay Pacific airplane is landing.
Cathay Pacific Joins With Sinopec In a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative
Airlines Aviation
//

Travel Radar is the leading digital hub for all things aviation and air-travel. Discover our latest aviation news, aviation data, insight and analysis.

Discover

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Press & PR
  • Privacy & Legal

Our Content

  • News
  • Data
  • Images
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Click here to Signup!

© Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2015-2025 | ISSN #2635-0696 | Trademark #UK00003579704
wpDiscuz
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Ads help us bring you high-quality, independent journalism for free. Support us by whitelisting us from your ad blocker.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome to the TR Community!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?