Dutch AH-64 Apache 'blown over' on Day Two of Afghan Dep.

MKopack · by **MKopack** » 11 May 2006, 12:55

Dutch Boeing AH-64D Apache 'blown over' on Day Two of Afghan deployment

10/05/06
Flight International

The Royal Netherlands Air Force’s latest detachment of six Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Afghanistan got off to a bad start on 30 April, when one of its aircraft was damaged just one day after the unit conducted its first operational flight.

The Apache was blown over (pictured below) by a taxiing Ilyushin Il-76 transport while parked at Kandahar airfield, coming to rest on its starboard weapons pylon and main rotor. A replacement will be deployed while the damaged aircraft is assessed.

Guysmiley · by **Guysmiley** » 11 May 2006, 15:06

Beware of Jet Blast!

akruse21 · by **akruse21** » 12 May 2006, 07:39

we had the same thing happen in malaysia with the same jet. They taxied to close to our AGE line we had all packed up ready to get on that plane. He turned to close and gunned the engines blowing our -60's and c10's all over the place. These are big pieces of equipment flying around and everyone was running and ducking and being blown all to hell.

MKopack · by **MKopack** » 12 May 2006, 11:18

Back at TJ, we had the same thing happen at the AGE yard, but with a C-5. The only difference was the SP on patrol who saw what was happening happened to be in the wrong place and his patrol car was rolled (thankfully, with the only injury being to the car...)

Mike

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 12 May 2006, 13:54

Didn't look too bad, of course, I am sure it was taken down for quite some time to inspect and whatnot but the real damage looked minimal (from what I can see) What damage did occur? How soon before it flew again?

Then again, the rotor transmission more then likely caused all the follow on maintenance and inspections, it look tilted a bit too?

Meathook · by **Meathook** » 12 May 2006, 14:03

When I was TDY to Miramar (Navel Base) back in 1986, I was based out of Luke AFB then. The Navy parked our aircraft (we were told we had to stay in that area) right in front of one of their heavy maintenance hangers.

The very first one of our aircraft that started up, then taxied and turned out of that area (its heat exhaust) caused their hanger fire suppressant system to turn on.

Yep, you know it...and one of their F-14's was inside with the canopy full open, the suppressant trashed the aircraft (filled the cockpit area of course), later they (Navy) then made us move our aircraft - go figure.

Man, was it messy too, (had to laugh but it really was not a laughing matter) lessons learned for all.