Airplane Crash Axe

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04-23-2024 | 06:09 AM

#11

myrkridia

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Joined: Mar 2017

Posts: 916

Likes: 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom11011

Is anyone aware of any circumstance where a commercial airliners crash axe was used for any reason? In all my years of flying I cannot recall this as a topic of discussion.

Can't believe nobody posted this

04-23-2024 | 06:25 AM

#12

Carl LaFong

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Joined: Oct 2021

Posts: 38

Likes: 1

From: CA, A320 family

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom11011

Is anyone aware of any circumstance where a commercial airliners crash axe was used for any reason? In all my years of flying I cannot recall this as a topic of discussion.

I used to fly 727 freighters. We had one bird that used B hydraulics to actuate the main deck cargo door. On a turn in STL, the second officer went to open the cargo door and one of the hydraulic lines ruptured, completely depleting the B system. And the door was still closed and latched. Contract maintainence, on the advice of MX control, emptied the ULD in the forward position and used the crash axe to hack a big enough hole in the can so they could crawl through and see WTF was going on with the cargo door/hydraulics.

04-23-2024 | 06:55 AM

#13

DumboDrop

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Joined: Dec 2021

Posts: 789

Likes: 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickair7777

It's intended for getting into panels for fire-fighting. It probably won't break cockpit windows, too many layers and too tough. It will probably bounce back and hit you in the head if you try.

If launching a bird at the window at 250kts doesn't break it, my swing in a confined space with my flabby pilot arms isn't going to even leave a mark.

04-23-2024 | 07:00 AM

#14

MtoL

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Joined: Dec 2021

Posts: 157

Likes: 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by DumboDrop

If launching a bird at the window at 250kts doesn't break it, my swing in a confined space with my flabby pilot arms isn't going to even leave a mark.

Ok so maybe not in a 737 cockpit then, but what about an A320 cockpit?

04-23-2024 | 07:02 AM

#15

GogglesPisano

Gets Weekends Off

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 6,566

Likes: 315

From: Sitting SC at the Five Towns

OMG there's an axe in the cockpit? Which flight? Call CNN! Must have been a Boeing.

Last edited by GogglesPisano; 04-23-2024 at 07:42 AM.

04-23-2024 | 07:11 AM

#16

Fifi

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Joined: Sep 2019

Posts: 137

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by myrkridia

Can't believe nobody posted this https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/08/17/b597505e-db5b-4a99-93f9-c16d6a07e1ff/thumbnail/1200x630/e1310ae214c7d74f7e3b1c82fa87eca1/ax-2.jpg

who says 62 year olds don't have pep in their step....errrrr, swing.....😊

04-23-2024 | 07:28 AM

#17

PilotWombat

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Joined: Jun 2019

Posts: 646

Likes: 13

From: Currently freeloading

Quote:

Originally Posted by trip

YES.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlant...nes_Flight_529

The fire started about one minute after impact, and an oxygen bottle behind the first officer's seat leaked, contributing to the strength of the fire. Despite a dislocated shoulder, First Officer Warmerdam used the cockpit fire axe to cut through the thick cockpit glass. Surviving passenger David McCorkell and Carroll County Sheriff Deputy Guy Pope later assisted by pulling the axe out of the cockpit through the hole Warmerdam had created and struck the glass from the outside to increase the size of the hole and help Warmerdam escape.

I thought of that immediately when I read the question. There's a really in depth write-up out there somewhere about it, and what I remember from it is just how useless the axe was. Too blunt to be useful, and the head kept falling off the handle. FO had to pass it outside to let a passenger whack away at it, and even then it didn't work well.

Made me take a good hard look at the ones in my flight deck. At least the ones at the majors are a single piece.

04-24-2024 | 06:25 AM

#18

Supermoto

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Joined: Feb 2014

Posts: 167

Likes: 1

From: 320 FO

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Kinda like the canopy breaker tool in the T-37. In approximately 93 years of service and 2.4 Billion flight hours, I don't think that thing was ever used in anger.