Airplane Crash Axe
 

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.

Let's not go down an SSI rabit-hole.

not really ssi when it is clearly stated necessary by the faa

Agreed let’s keep it to relevant past stories from the news.

It made the news, naturally given the date/era.

I heard later that the ONLY reason the IRO/RFO/Bunkie/Scribe DIDN'T use the sharp end was he was afraid of the back swing and the proximity to the CA's head.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/...ckpit-crasher/

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.

I am.

Following a crash.

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.

Boy would I like to see some mythbuster type person try that. For science…

There is a story (precovid) years ago on a A330 flt across the pond, to help free an overly large lady who'd fallen and wedged herself between the loo and the door where the relief FO tried (unsuccessfully according to the story) to break the hinges with the axe. Story goes after a few whacks and requisite damage, word came over the ACARS from MX how to remove the hinge pins to free her.

Can't believe nobody posted this https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hu...7eca1/ax-2.jpg

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.

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?:D

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

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

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.

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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.

Will cut through the plastic liner and the aluminum skin pretty well. Not made to cut through the windows.

I used it to cut off one of those wrist bands they give you at the all inclusive resorts. Forgot to have the resort remove it before we left.

One of ours had his butter knife confiscated by TSA and used the axe to spread peanut butter on his bagel.

or go to a sitdown restuarant and get a butter knife from them or a steak knife.
The TSA needs to be demolished

I believe the crew used the axe to get of the cockpit of the Kalitta crash in Bogata.

I would like to get more info thanks.

Bad one. Miracle any survived. Spit some blades on one, cobbed the rest & lost another. Set her down on a semi-flat hilltop?

Once in Calgary, 'airport security' there confiscated my plastic knife...you know, the kind you can get at any fast-food restaurant, coffee shop, on the airplane, etc etc etc. "This is a dangerous prohibited item," I was told.

So I just smiled, nodded, walked a few meters to the Tim Horton's beyond security, and grabbed five more 'dangerous prohibited items.'

Nitwits...

The FO in the Horizon Dash-8-100 crash at Seatac in the 80's attempted to break the cockpit window with the crash axe and ended up with a nice scar on his forehead when it bounced off the undamaged window right into his noggin.

This guy was a hero until I spied the phone holster.

Oh no. He’s still my hero!

I believe they lost 2 more after the initial failure....3 in total or partial power loss on one and 2 total failures..cant remember all the details. cockpit came to rest on side or almost upside down.

Worked overtop those hillsides quite a bit. Gorgeous landscape. There was a 10 freighter landed halfway down, saw it wouldn’t work, tried to go then changed their mind. Went sailing off into a cow pasture. All survived. A big top at Medellin rejected late on a wet surface ran down into the north valley, everyone but egos ok I think. Fresh cut flowers. Never really thought about the ax. Like the raft signal mirror and patch kit, lucky if you get the chance to use them?

It was used by the co-pilot to escape the cockpit of Comair 9151 following the post-crash fire. Despite extensive burns, he was able to extricate himself through the windshield using the axe. He would eventually return to the cockpit to fly another day. The use of the axe was something mentioned on a documentary I saw years ago.


​https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comair_Flight_5191

a long time ago post 9/11 and pre reinforced cockpit doors on a 777 some knuckle head was breaching the cockpit door through the blowout panels. The captain was on break in the cabin, and one of the FOs bashed the breacher in the head with the crash axe. It worked.

Good find thank you.

Thank you.

Depending on whom is telling the story, see post 5.

It was already brought up the day you started the thread.

Sole survivor of a 50 onboard CRJ crash. Extracted from wreckage by 1st responders. Departure RW pilot error. Head trauma, collapsed lung, leg amputation. Occurring 6 years after recovery from accidental GSW in the abdomen fired by ex wife. Paul Bunyan of aircraft axe tales.

let’s start a new thread on the cockpit’s fire gloves. We must get really bored sometimes.

We don't have those?

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure he never flew again