AIRPLANE CRASH AT SEA IN LARNACA

26. - 27.06.2003

SALVAGE

PHOTOS      /     photo album

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AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. AND BRASAL MARINE SERVICES LTD.

 No authorisation for use of these photo images in any form or media 

unless written permission by ABOVE NAMED COMPANIES is given or granted.

 

(MOVE CURSOR ON IMAGE FOR TEXT THEN CLICK TO ENLARGE)

 

time / place

ON THE 26.06.2003 a private airplane crashed into the sea in the area off McKenzie beach in LARNACA. 

the Airplane

IS a twin prop piper.

INCIDENT

DURING THE APPROACH TO LARNACA AIRPORT ONE OF THE ENGINES FAILED.

survivors

the pilot and his son survived without any harm BUT were transported to the hospital.

WRECK SITE CONDITION

 

VISUAL OF THE WRECK FROM THE SURFACE

WATER DEPTH: -5 METERS, SAND BOTTOM, MINOR CURRENT, GOOD VISIBILITY.

WRECK CONDITION

 

PORT SIDE

THE AIRPLANE HAD SEVERAL BREAKS AT DIFFERENT PLACES BUT WAS COMPLETE. IT LAYS UPSIDE-DOWN ON THE SEA BOTTOM.

DEBRIS

 

DEBRIS

THE DEBRIS FIELD WAS OF SMALL SIZE AND CONSISTED OF VERY FEW ITEMS. ALL OBJECTS FROM THE AIRPLANE WERE RECOVERED BY A DIVER.

AUTHORITIES

THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITIES AND MARINE POLICE REQUESTED VISUAL, VIDEO AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHY EVIDENCE PRIOR TO ANY SALVAGE ATTEMPT.

THIS WAS UNDERTAKEN BY POLICE DIVERS, SALVAGE DIVERS AND UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHERS.

THE SALVAGE RIGHTS WERE GRANTED TO BRASAL MARINE SERVICES LTD.

AQUATEC - INNERSPACE OPERATIONS LTD. WAS CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE THE PHOTOGRAPHIC CAPTURE OF EVIDENCE.

VIDEO

IMAGES WERE TAKEN BY BRASAL'S ROV AND SURFACE SUPPLIED DIVERS WITH HELMET MOUNTED CAMERAS. THE DIVERS WERE GUIDED BY UNDERWATER COMMUNICATIONS.

PHOTOS

 

COCKPIT CONTROLS DEBRIS BREAK AT END SECTION

THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES REQUESTED THAT SPECIAL DETAILS OF COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS, DEBRIS AND AIRPLANE DAMAGES WERE CAPTURED BY STILL PHOTOGRAPHS.

SALVAGE

 

DIVER AT ENTRANCE OF AIRPLANE

 

INITIAL LIFT BEFORE TURN

 

ROLL OVER THE NOSE

 

IN NORMAL POSITION

 

AIRBORNE AGAIN

 

SWINGING INTO POSITION TRANSPORT BY M/V "SKIP"

 

TAKEOVER FROM SHORE

AFTER THE PRIMARY EVIDENCE WAS ESTABLISHED SALVAGE DIVERS OF BRASAL MARINE SERVICES LTD. PREPARED THE AIRPLANE WRECK TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER.

FINAL DESTINATION OF THE WRECK WAS LARNACA AIRPORT.

IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT THE AIRPLANE OVER SEA TO A HEAVY LIFT CRANE ON SHORE OFF LARNACA AIRPORT THE WRECK HAD TO BE TURNED OVER IN ITS NORMAL POSITION.

1ST STEP WAS TO LIFT THE WRECK OFF THE GROUND WITH SLINGS CONNECTED TO THE LANDING GEAR.

THEN A LIFT SLING WAS PLACED AROUND THE TAIL AND THE AIRPLANE WAS LIFTED INTO A VERTICAL POSITION. A TUG BOAT PULLED THE AIRPLANE OVER AND IT WAS RESET IN UPRIGHT POSITION ON THE SEA BED.

SEVERAL LIFT SLINGS WERE POSITIONED AROUND THE WINGS, NOSE AND TAIL.

STEP BY STEP THE WRECK WAS LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER GIVING TIME FOR WATER FILLED SPACES TO DRAIN.

FINALLY THE AIRPLANE WRECK WAS LIFTED ON DECK THE SALVAGE VESSEL "SKIP" AND TRANSPORTED TO THE SHORES OF LARNACA AIRPORT.

THERE THE PLANE WAS PLACED IN THE BEACH WATER AND TAKEN OVER BY A HEAVY LIFT FOR FURTHER TRANSPORT TO THE AIRPORT.

ARTIFICIAL WRECK

THERE ARE PLANS THAT AFTER THE WRECK IS FULLY INVESTIGATED AND CLEANED IT WILL BE DEPLOYED IN THE SEA AS A DIVE SITE.

PHOTOS      /      photo album