flightsimer wrote:
If you want to blame someone, the owner/operators are who you should be blaming! How do you forget to put in plugs when you know you are going to be landing in the water? It was the film crew who were the ones who saved it to begin with as they were the ones who went down and installed the plugs.
IMO there are two evolutions involved here...both are different issues and results. Of course if you didn't have the first you wouldn't have the second. However the cards are dealt and you have to play what's in your hand.
1. "If" the hull plugs were indeed left out and a water landing resulted in the sinking....that is evolution #1 (E-1). Also, has it been confirmed the hull plugs were not installed or is that media speculation/rumor? I would be shocked if a qual'd PBY pilot or CP would not check those on a preflight or walk-around for an upcoming water landing. It's possibly they were missed but that would be a "Wow!" revelation IMO.
2. It is what it was....the plane took on water for whatever reason and ended up in the surf and a recovery attempt(s) was/were made.......evolution #2 (E-2).
At this point, we can theorize about what exactly led to the sinking (E-1) and who owns it. Probably need to see the official reports for that.
IMO....there is not much theory on the subsequent recovery operation (E-2)......the plane was in one piece when it was beached and the various salvage ops started. IMO the salvage company or the on-scene person in charge with go/no-go authority of the different salvage attempts owns the results. The salvage buck has to stop somewhere.
With all the above said.....a lot of questions and not many answers at this point. Hopefully more details will come out in the near future that will shed light on this situation.
Yes, some of have plugs were not installed.