Orlando - Diamond DA42 accident flipped high winds

[dant]

The engine on the high wing would have dropped from an altitude of about 30'. Dropping 4,000lbs from 22' - 30' (help me physicists) is a lot of force on the "roll bar".

It's a lot, but it's not 26Gs! This is definitely something to keep an eye on.

[blsewardjr]

Some more information -- https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/dia ... ne-killed/

[Charles]

The engine on the high wing would have dropped from an altitude of about 30'. Dropping 4,000lbs from 22' - 30' (help me physicists) is a lot of force on the "roll bar".

It's a lot, but it's not 26Gs! This is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Think about it this way: if the plane falls inverted and hard on the tarmac, the full weight and momentum of the two engines (and the entire plane) would be supported by a wingtip, the top of the rollbar and the tip of the tail. I can certainly see how the roll bar would get crushed in that scenario.

In all the DA40 crash pictures above, the weight of the engine is supported by the ground. The roll bar really only supports the tail and one wing.

[Boatguy]

The engine on the high wing would have dropped from an altitude of about 30'. Dropping 4,000lbs from 22' - 30' (help me physicists) is a lot of force on the "roll bar".

It's a lot, but it's not 26Gs! This is definitely something to keep an eye on.

I think the 26Gs is for a frontal collision, not an arbitrary angle of impact (CFIT).

[nworthin]

My insurance mandated 10 hour transition training for my DA62 was done by Patrick Abel. He's the owner of MyFlight, a combination flying club and training center specializing in Diamond aircraft out of KORL. The AvWeb article says that a flight instructor was injured in this accident.

I emailed him when I heard about the accident but have not heard back. I certainly hope that, if he was the instructor mentioned, that his injuries are minor. He's a good guy.

[dant]

I think the 26Gs is for a frontal collision, not an arbitrary angle of impact

Maybe, but it certainly gets thrown around in casual conversation regarding spins in the ground.

[CFIDave]

I think the 26Gs is for a frontal collision, not an arbitrary angle of impact

Maybe, but it certainly gets thrown around in casual conversation regarding spins in the ground.

I thought the 26Gs referred to capability of the crush blocks located underneath the seats, which would seem to apply to vertical (downward, not upward or forward) forces acting on the seats.

[Steve]

When I was considering my airplane purchase (way back in 1999-2000), Diamond sent me a CD with a video of their 26 G frontal crash test. I'll see if I can find it, and upload. It is quite impressive. The crush blocks under the seats are there to reduce 'Jolt' (onset of G loading - acceleration rate of the acceleration), and reduce spinal injury. As Dave states, they don't do anything for -Gx, or -Gz. They may offer some mitigation of +Gx (force from behind) by allowing the rear of the seat to pivot downward against resistance.

[Soareyes]

"the crush blocks located underneath the seats, "

What crush blocks? Perhaps the upright structures where the fittings labelled "C" are attached?

[Steve]

In the diagram you attached, they are the two (unlabelled) rectangular blocks next to the circled parts 'C'.