Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Doubts cast over future of Sea Fury after crash
THE engine of an historic naval plane stopped working in midair before its pilots made an emergency landing near RNAS Yeovilton.
The Sea Fury plane that crash landed in Limington, around a mile away from the runway at the Somerset airbase, at 2pm on Wednesday, may never fly again after the landing saw the plane shear in two.
The two pilots onboard, both highly experienced former naval pilots, were both taken to Yeovil Hospital as a precaution but remarkably escaped injury. They have been praised for their skill in bringing the plane back to earth safely.
The plane reportedly passed just metres from nearby homes before it crashed, while also taking out a power line in the village.
An investigation at the scene of the crash, led by Navy Wings, a charity that was in charge of restoring and maintaining the aircraft involved, has now concluded.
A spokesman for Navy Wings has confirmed that the plane will be transported from the field back to RNAS Yeovilton.
A statement from Navy Wings reads: “The Sea Fury, which was on a routine training flight, suffered a significant drop in engine oil pressure shortly after taking off and climbing away from the airfield.
“The pilots immediately carried out the appropriate drills and transmitted a PAN call.
“They turned back and lined themselves up perfectly up for a precautionary landing on Runway 04.
“However, shortly before reaching the runway on close finals, the engine stopped, changing the speed and angle of glide of the approach dramatically,
and they were forced to put the aircraft straight down into a field just outside the airfield boundary.”
“The pilots’ skilful execution of an extremely hazardous situation was exemplary,” said commodore Jock Alexander, CEO of the charity.
“We are all extremely relieved that they are safe and well. RNAS Yeovilton Air Traffic Control reacted immediately, and the emergency fire and medical services were very quickly on the scene. The support of the air station has been outstanding.”
Mr Alexander added: “The Sea Fury is a classic and much-loved Fleet Air Arm aircraft, and the accident has
The accident has been a shock to everyone ... It is too early to say whether it is feasible to rebuild her and if she will ever fly again JOCK ALEXANDER
been a shock to everyone in the Navy Wings community.
“It is too early to say whether it is feasible to rebuild her and if she will ever fly again.”
This incident is the second time in seven years that this particular Sea Fury T20, the Royal Navy’s last flying piston-engined fighter, has crashed.
The plane was severely damaged at an air show at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall seven years ago before it was repaired and flying again by 2017.
Chief engineer at Navy Wings, Jim Norris, added: “Great skill and calm was shown by everyone in the postcrash management team.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received.”