Martin Mars Vandalized

[Wilson]

Reported at WildfireToday.com:

Coulson Flying Tankers is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the vandalizing of one its waterbombers moored at Sproat Lake in Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

CEO Wayne Coulson told The Province that the weekend damage might have had catastrophic results because of the danger posed to the two pilots and two flight engineers who operate the “Hawaii Mars.” There was a hole found in the fabric of the vertical stabilizer of the plane after someone apparently climbed aboard from the water on Saturday night.

The plane was ordered Sunday on a fire on Bowen Island, then turned around by dispatch, so the crew then flew to Lake Cowichan for a training run. They encountered troubles with stability, according to Coulson, and flew back to Sproat Lake, where they discovered a huge hole in the vertical stabilizer.

He said the vandalism occurred late Saturday when someone took a boat to where the Mars was docked. Neighbors reported noise, but the partiers were gone by the time police arrived. The incident’s under investigation by Port Alberni Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Coulson estimates the damage at about $25,000. The company is adding security guards to their facility.

[Warbird Kid]

Such a shame. No respect. I'd like to see a pic of the damage.

[carlisle1926]

So they didn't notice the hole until they were in the air. Aren't you supposed to check for things like that before you even get in the plane?

[JDK]

So they didn't notice the hole until they were in the air. Aren't you supposed to check for things like that before you even get in the plane?

It's normal practice to do a 'walk round' and in this case it's a 'float round'. Without details, there are at least three possible explanations to missing rudder damage -

- Not expecting it. We all 'see what we expect' at times - pilots and flight engineers have to work hard to avoid that trap. Bear in mind it's not damage you'd expect.
- Not visible. From a dinghy, it may simply not have been visible; obscured by the horizontal tailplane, sun position etc.
- The damage might've been initially minor and not visible, but a cut or damage to a fabric-covered rudder will be increased by the airflow once airborne.

I've been around one of the Mars on the water at Sproat Lake in a canoe, and I can easily see how even careful crew could miss something. It's sad that some people are so selfish or ignorant they need to put other's lives at risk for a moment's 'entertainment'.

Regards,

[JDK]

Note this report says 'horizontal stabiliser'. Both more likely for malicious or accidental damage, and harder to see. Wayne Couldson (who ought to know!) has been quoted as to the 'vertical stabiliser'. I can see a big advantage in using 'rudder' and 'elevators' here. The media have no idea, including 'fins'!

A waterbomber needed to douse forest fires in British Columbia is out of action after being damaged by vandals, as the fire risk in the province continues to climb.

Port Alberni RCMP are investigating after the horizontal canvas stabilizers on the Martin Mars waterbomber were torn by at least one trespasser climbing on the aircraft. The damage is believed to have occurred on Saturday night.

The waterbomber, moored at Sproat Lake, is contracted out by the province but is owned by the Coulson Group.

Spokesperson Jim Messer said the company is offering $5,000 to anyone with information that would lead to a conviction.

"It was malicious, it wasn't just an act of goofing off, these people had intent. There's been a few boats shooed away throughout the day and we believe it was one of these boats that came back," he said.

"We will proceed with full prosecution if we can find out what happened here."

Messer says the direct cost of damage, repairs and loss of service amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... lised.html

While this is completely confused between the rudder and elevators.

The vandalism, which is being investigated by Port Alberni RCMP, happened Saturday evening when some individuals boated up to where the Mars was docked and clambered aboard, apparently to jump off the plane’s wings.

Neighbours reported the commotion but the boaters fled before police arrived.

At least one of the individuals is believed to have gone to the tail of the plane and somehow put a hole in the fabric of a critical component, the vertical stabilizer that moves up and down on the tail.

Coulson said the damage wasn’t noticed as the fabric may have popped back into place.

On Sunday, the plane was required to fight a fire on Bowen Island but was called off the blaze.

Coulson said the crew went to Lake Cowichan for a short training run instead.

“They were having problems with the stability of the aircraft,” he said.

The stress on the aircraft is tremendous because, as Coulson explained, it picks up almost 32,000 kilograms of water in 30 seconds.

After completing training, the plane went back to Sproat Lake and that’s when the problem was noted.

“There was a massive hole in the vertical stabilizer,” said Coulson. “That’s how close we came to a disaster.

“It’s an emergency vehicle and for it to be tampered with is totally unacceptable,” he said. “We could have lost four souls and the aircraft and done more damage.”

He estimated the damage, along with the penalty for not being available, as totalling $25,000.

This is the second time the plane has been boarded in the middle of the night. The company has security cameras but didn’t catch anyone and is now going to use security guards.

The plane was repaired overnight and practised again Monday.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/water+b ... z22v2ILu8V

One or two boatloads of people came up to the aircraft where it was moored and at least one person climbed onto the wings, owner Wayne Coulson said Monday.

One person scrambled down the top of the fuselage and got onto the horizontal stabilizers, which are made of a canvas-like fabric. Their feet went through the fabric, jeopardizing the aircraft’s flight worthiness.

Unaware of the incident, a crew arrived Sunday when they were called to a forest fire on Bowen Island. The usual pre-flight check, carried out by boat, didn’t reveal any damage, so the crew boarded and got the plane underway.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Water ... z22v2u0qeB

[aabryant]

I have sat in the cockpit of this aircraft (with permission) and swum in the inviting waters of Sproat Lake.

I think the word "vandalism" here is better described as "a bunch of drunken wankers trespassed on the hottest day of summer and caused serious damage to a vintage aircraft so they could dive off the wings/tailplain". I hope the people are identified and prosecuted to the full letter of the law by the Port Alberni RCMP.
SOMEBODY knows who the culprits were.

I applaud the pilots who quickly noticed the change in aircraft flying trim and safely returned. Bravo. However I would have hated to be a firefighter on the ground who needed a water drop "right here and right now".

[Django]

What a shame. Thankfully the flight ended with a good outcome.

[Forgotten Field]

Yeah I always like that Captain Ron pre-flight- "Ah…Don't worry, boss. If anything's gonna happen it's gonna happen out there...."

Personally, I'd rather go around unnoticed, flying right, than getting recognized for saving my own ass from being stupid...

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I wouldn't park a 172 on floats unattended, much less a Mars. How much would it have cost Coulson to hire a watchman?

[SeptRepair]

The tear was about 2 feet long and located near the trailing edge of the RH elevator. The damage was consistent of some idiot going to jump off the aircraft and putting their foot through. The damage was easily seen from the water, if you were looking for it. I would suspect the person most likely entered the water flailing and scared the crap out of themselves. At the very least I hope they nutted themselves.

[StangStung]

How much does something like that cost to repair?

Seems like it's going to be heck of a lot of work.

[The Inspector]

I wouldn't park a 172 on floats unattended, much less a Mars. How much would it have cost Coulson to hire a watchman?

They finally had to hire security. If you GOOGLE EARTH Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, B.C. you'll notice right off that it's not 'right off the freeway' it's fairly remote so for the last umptedozen years it's location has protected the aircraft, but now apparently the expansion of big city neanderthals out into the hinterlands have caused this to happen. I have no doubts the RCMP will track these 'here, hold my MOLSONS and watch this'clowns down.
It's really too bad the aircaft is damaged now that peak fire season is coming up in the GWN, but I'm certain the guys @ COULSONS are equal to the task of doing a repair.

[SeptRepair]

The aircraft was fixed immediately and within 24 hours was back in the air. The actual cost was just wages and some fabric and paint. The real expense was the loss of revenue as the aircraft was unavailable to meets its contract obligations for that day. As for the comment its remote. Not in the least. The lake the aircraft is situated on, is close to the city and is a hot vacation spot. There are numerous boats and houseboats on the lake everyday during the summer. The worst offenders are those that do not live around here. The locals know the rules and respect the aircraft more than you would believe. There have been countless encounters over the years of people climbing on the aircraft and jumping off the wings/tail. A few have been caught ( and throughly given a good ear full ) others have evaded capture. This is the first in a long time they have actually caused damage by being on top and jumping.

[bilwor]

With the wings and tail sitting so high, how can you climb up to reach them?
bill word

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Bring along a ladder?