Friday, October 16, 2020

HISTORICAL INTEREST: Fuerza Aerea Argentina / LADE retired F-27 fleet in September 2016 after nearly 40 years in service


Lineas Aereas del Estado - LADE, an arm of the Fuerza Aerea Argentina, retired its last F-27 from service in 2016 after over 40 years flying the type.  F-27-400M, TC-79 (c/n 10575), marked the end of an era in mid-September with a week-long tour of 19 cities where the aircraft flew during its career.  

The aircraft was painted in a special scheme for the occasion as noted in these links to the Rollout Spotting blog and short YouTube video:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPml62bzVx0

Celebrations greeted TC-79 everywhere it flew starting at Parana (PRA) and continuing to El Palomar (EPA), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Bahia Blanca (BHI), Trelew (REL), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Puerto Madryn (PMY), San Antonio Oeste (OES), Gobernador Gregores (GGS), Puerto Deseado (PUD), San Julian, Santa Cruz, Rio Gallegos (RGL), Rio Grande (RGA), Ushuaia (USH), El Calafate (FTE), Esquel (EQS), Bariloche (BRC), and Neuquen (NQN).  Most of these airports are located in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina famed for its lakes, glaciers, mountains and wilderness.

LADE's F-27 fleet additionally operated flights from Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) to the Islas Malvinas / Falklands Islands during the 1970's bringing medications and other supplies to the archipelago.  It also flew 309 missions to the islands in support of Argentine forces during the South Atlantic War of 1982 transporting men and materiel without suffering any losses.   

The Fuerza Aerea Argentina operated a total of sixteen F-27's with all or nearly all of them having flown passenger service on behalf of LADE.  

The aircraft had a poor safety record flying for the FAA / LADE, probably reflective of the rugged Patagonia region where it flew with frequent bad weather, especially in winter, and airfields that were often minimally equipped with navigational and other aids.  

Nine of the sixteen F-27's were involved in incidents ranging from serious, such as a gear collapse upon landing, to devastating accidents with the loss of all passengers and crew, which happened twice.         

Specifically, the following aircraft were involved in the listed incidents / accidents:  

F-27-600, T-42 (c/n 10346) - Gear up landing in Rio Gallegos (RGL) on 18Apr72 with no victims.  

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-71 (c/n 10403) - Nose gear collapsed upon landing in Lago Argentino on 06Feb75 with no victims.


F-27-400M Troopship, TC-73 (c/n 10407) - Left main landing gear collapse followed by runway excursion and collision with the airport terminal building in Jeremie Airport, Haiti while flying a United Nations peace mission on 16Jun95. No victims.      

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-77 (c/n 10416) - Landing accident at the Marambio Base in Antarctica on 02Dec69 resulting in the W/O of the aircraft but with no victims.    

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-74 (c/n 10408) - Collided with a generator while starting to taxi at the Military Aviation School in Cordoba on 07Feb73 resulting in one death.  Cargo door opened while in flight over Cordoba on 04Oct74 with one death.     

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-75 (c/n 10411) - Collision with terrain in the Quebrada del Rio Congas 200km northeast of Lima, Peru while performing a humanitarian aid flight. Loss of 4 crew members with 4 passengers seriously injured.     

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-76 (c/n 10412) - Collision with terrain after an abrupt turn during take off followed by fire at Mendoza (MDZ) on 17May11 with the loss of 4 victims. 

F-27-400M Troopship, TC-72 (c/n 10404) - Collision with Mt. Pilcaniyeu while on final approach to Bariloche (BRC) on 16Mar75 with the loss of 52 victims. 

F-27-500, TC-72 (c/n 10619) - Collision with terrain in stormy conditions including rain, turbulence and strong winds near Mt. Champaqui in Cordoba on 08Nov95 with the loss of 53 victims. 

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160922/avn-160922.html
http://www.lacapitalmdp.com/mar-del-plata-vio-pasar-al-historico-fokker-f-27-en-su-viaje-de-despedida/ via Carlos Abella
http://www.eldiariodelfindelmundo.com/noticias/2016/09/22/68565-ushuaia-rindio-homenaje-al-ultimo-avion-fokker-f-27-que-conecto-la-region-durante-mas-de-40-anos via Carlos Abella
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search/label/Fokker%20F-27%2FFairchild%20F-27    

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