Chipmunk Collides with Antenna in Argentina, Lands Safely

[Noha307]

A de Havilland DCH-1 Chipmunk, LV-NRY, collided with an antenna at Bragado Airfield in Argentina on November 5th before landing safely. The video is quite incredible and even more amazing is that pictures of the aftermath seem to show that the wing was almost ripped off the airplane.

[Randy Haskin]

Flying airplanes rule #1: Don't hit the ground or anything attached to it.

[Scott Rose]

I saw the video, pretty intense. Nice recovery by the pilot though.

[Randy Haskin]

I saw the video, pretty intense. Nice recovery by the pilot though.

"A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.”
— Frank Borman

[Archer]

Not the safest way to modify a Chipmunk wing to incorporate sweepback.... it could have ended up a lot worse, glad no major injuries occurred!

[Pogo]

Randy Haskin, I always enjoy your posts, but especially your last one in this thread!

(Frank Borman is one of my favorite people on this planet.)

[marine air]

We rarely get video out of South America regarding warbirds and when we do it's entertaining. Remember the guy in the blue and yellow Army PT-17 Stearman doing aerobatics on the beach? He was right off shore and continued until the plane hit the water. Remember the guy with the T-28? He was buzzing an Indy car event flying perpendicular to the grandstands and about eight feet above their heads. Finally after a half dozen passes he hits the much higher trees and totals the airplane in front of his friends. I think both of these guys lived.
The question I have on this video ; Is the antenna a permanent fixture? surely something wouldn't be in line with the normal landing area. My guess is that a local radio operator set up the antenna for the event. It would be difficult to see if you didn't even know it was there. Ideally, like when the military does a flyover at a sporting event, they have "boots on the ground." They come out and survey the stadium a few days before the event and then have a guy on the ground with a radio communicating the day of the flyover.

[marine air]

We rarely get video out of South America regarding warbirds and when we do it's entertaining. Remember the guy in the blue and yellow Army PT-17 Stearman doing aerobatics on the beach? He was right off shore and continued until the plane hit the water. Remember the guy with the T-28? He was buzzing an Indy car event flying perpendicular to the grandstands and about eight feet above their heads. Finally after a half dozen passes he hits the much higher trees and totals the airplane in front of his friends. I think both of these guys lived.
The question I have on this video ; Is the antenna a permanent fixture? surely something wouldn't be in line with the normal landing area. My guess is that a local radio operator set up the antenna for the event. It would be difficult to see if you didn't even know it was there. Ideally, like when the military does a flyover at a sporting event, they have "boots on the ground." They come out and survey the stadium a few days before the event and then have a guy on the ground with a radio communicating the day of the flyover.

[JimH]

There is another video posted on Facebook of him doing a low pass and nearly dragging a wing (same day)...I'm sure it will be post on youtube, if it hasn't been already.

Jim

[C VEICH]

There is another video posted on Facebook of him doing a low pass and nearly dragging a wing (same day)...I'm sure it will be post on youtube, if it hasn't been already.

Jim

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_3N65EMji-g

[F3A-1]

If he had just "1" more try I think he could have killed himself!

[DH82EH]

A good rule to live by in this world of aviation is "All aeroplanes bite fools".
If you are going to do things that are this foolish, it's not if! It's when and how bad.
From pictures I've seen, the Chipmunk has been converted into spare parts. Likely beyond economical repair.
He's lucky to be alive.

[lucky52]

Do you warbird A&P types think that a/c is totaled ?

[Archer]

Any wreck can be rebuilt, we have seen enough examples of that. The question is whether it is economically feasible to do so. In this case you would need a new wing and I would hazard a guess that the carry through structure in the fuselage is busted as well. At that point just buying another Chipmunk becomes easier and cheaper. (I'm not an A&P type by the way.)

[Warbirdnerd]

Do you warbird A&P types think that a/c is totaled ?

I'm an AME and A&P. I'm also a Chipmunk owner/pilot.
Looking at the accident aircraft I see a destroyed R/H wing, fuselage and carry through spar. That's just the obvious.
Repairing all of this would definately cost more than buying another airframe. Especially after factoring in spares recovery.
That's why I said beyond economical repair.

That is a shame. One of the reports referred to it as the worlds oldest flying Chipmunk. Anyone know if that is indeed the case?