Sydney Airport Message Board Sydney Airport Message Board  

Go Back   Sydney Airport Message Board > Aviation Industry News and Discussion > International Industry


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17th August 2024, 10:44 PM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,843
Default PNG P2-PXB Mercury Spill

P2-PXB suffered a Mercury spill on 23/07/24.

The a/c hasn't flown since.

https://www.thenational.com.pg/mercu...-investigated/

https://www.postcourier.com.pg/the-m...lage-incident/

The reason I mention this event is because VH-FKE (F100) leased from Alliance around 2006 suffered the same incident and was written off as uneconomic to repair.

FKE is now with the BNE Airport fire trainer.

We will see what fate awaits P2-PXB
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17th August 2024, 11:19 PM
Robert.M Robert.M is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wagga Wagga
Posts: 623
Default

Only received the aircraft in May and had its first flight in June!
__________________
Robert Myers Photography - Aviation Spotting Australia

Flightradar24 feeder (F-YSWG1 & T-YSWG2)
FlightAware feeder (YSWG/6482)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18th August 2024, 03:54 PM
MarkR MarkR is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,208
Default

Been happening for over 50 years in PNG, not unusual. This won’t result in a write off as it’s very different to the Fokker.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18th August 2024, 03:59 PM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkR View Post
Been happening for over 50 years in PNG, not unusual. This won’t result in a write off as it’s very different to the Fokker.
Have you got more examples ?

Both are aluminum, whats the difference ?

The reaction of Aluminum & Mercury produces Aluminum amalgam.

Due to the reactivity of aluminium amalgam, restrictions are placed on the use and handling of mercury in proximity with aluminium. In particular, large amounts of mercury are not allowed aboard aircraft under most circumstances because of the risk of it forming amalgam with exposed aluminium parts in the aircraft.

Even the transportation and packaging of mercury-containing thermometers and barometers is severely restricted. Accidental mercury spills in aircraft do sometimes result in insurance write-offs.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18th August 2024, 07:16 PM
Brenden S Brenden S is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,134
Default

That isn't flying again unless it was contained to the floor boards.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 18th August 2024, 08:42 PM
MarkR MarkR is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,208
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Hyde View Post
Have you got more examples ?

Both are aluminum, whats the difference ?

The reaction of Aluminum & Mercury produces Aluminum amalgam.

.
I am not saying it’s minor either, just that the circumstances are very different, when Allianz went to Fokker for help there was none, and no jigs existed to do the fix, where as Boeing have in place procedures and equipment to correct the issue. Polar reactivated a 747 that was previously subject to a Mercury spill. They happen on a semi regular basis in PNG, especially on routes to Hagen, Wau and Bullolo.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 18th August 2024, 10:45 PM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,843
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkR View Post
I am not saying it’s minor either, just that the circumstances are very different, when Allianz went to Fokker for help there was none, and no jigs existed to do the fix, where as Boeing have in place procedures and equipment to correct the issue. Polar reactivated a 747 that was previously subject to a Mercury spill. They happen on a semi regular basis in PNG, especially on routes to Hagen, Wau and Bullolo.
Fake news again.

No reference or verification to "Been happening for over 50 years in PNG, not unusual".

Your statement saying "not unusual" which you can't prove, downplays the whole incident to being a minor issue.

The reaction creating Aluminum amalgam will "eat" any Aluminum it can find. The mercury is reduced (in volume) but not significantly, and the reaction will continue until all the Aluminum is consumed.

As Brenden says "That isn't flying again unless it was contained to the floor boards" is true because of the difficulty in tracing which part of the aircraft structure has been weakened.

The Polar story:

The 1979-build 747-200F was being operated by Southern Air Transport when, during routine maintenance in February 1996, extensive mercury contamination was discovered below the main cargo deck. The aircraft had suffered a mercury spill about a month before the contamination was discovered, but had been returned to service when the liquid metal had been recovered from below the aft maindeck cargo door sill.

Because of the damage, the insurers deemed the aircraft to be a constructive total loss. Since then, the 747 - serial number 21827, a relatively sought-after -200F delivered new as a freighter equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7Q engines and both nose and side-cargo doors - has been repaired by Evergreen Air Center in Marana, Arizona, and sold to Wetmore Finance.

It has also been to the Matrix plant in Tijuana, Mexico, for extensive maintenance work.

The aircraft, which was remarketed by Fortis Aviation, will re-enter service with Polar in December on a 63-month operating lease.

Polar leased the aircraft after it was written-off and rebuilt

https://www.flightglobal.com/polar-r.../18447.article
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19th August 2024, 04:11 AM
MarkR MarkR is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,208
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Hyde View Post
Fake news again.

No reference or verification to "Been happening for over 50 years in PNG, not unusual".

Your statement saying "not unusual" which you can't prove, downplays the whole incident to being a minor issue.

LOL, my experience as a pilot in PNG is the basis of my post, no proof needed. Fortunately I am not the only only one saying this the case, you might want to read the thread on Pprune including this post by the moderator

Quote:
Mercury spills in PNG aircraft, especially operating into Wau, Bullolo and Hagen, have been happening for over 50 years to my knowledge.
https://www.pprune.org/pacific-gener...hlight=Mercury

Here’s the reference for the official investigation https://www.aic.gov.pg/investigation/948, there is no data available yet on actual damage so it’s probably best to cool our jets so to speak and not jump to conclusions, especially with anything to do with PNG

Last edited by MarkR; 19th August 2024 at 04:22 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 19th August 2024, 09:15 AM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,843
Default

Fake news, reposting of unsubstantiated information.

You seem to of forgotten the Polar Air B747 after the facts were checked.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 5th September 2024, 07:06 PM
Michael Mak Michael Mak is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 464
Default

P2-PXB has just taken off flying POM-MNL as PX6010, first time it’s returned to the air since the incident, presumably for maintenance? It’s currently climbing through FL370 and it looks like the cabin is pressurised.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time now is 07:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © Sydney Airport Message Board 1997-2022
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Conditions of Use and Privacy Statement