Lightning strikes

[On the up]

Hey, I have heard many different people talking about lightning strikes. The plane isn't grounded so nothing can happen? Electrical systems fried? Holes through wings? Exploding fuel tanks? Fire?

As far as I'm aware I haven't been hit by lightning, so what CAN actually happens when lightning strikes an airborne vehicle? Does anyone have any stories?

[Four1oh]

I've been struck once, on an HS748, and no side effect whatsoever. Heard a story about the Hawker's engine fire extinguishers blowing into the engines on a lightning strike, though... The ole Dart chewed it up and spat it out, and off they went.

[AuxBatOn]

We can't fly in the vicinity of lighting (or we should avoid it) as when our external tank is almost empty, it might blow the tank up. Heard of and seen airplanes with burnt spots where the bolt got in and got out.

AuxBatOn

[Arctic Icarus]

Been hit a few times. Once there were burn marks along the side of the aircraft. Another the lightning melted a lightning diverter strip on the radome. Each time no electrical problems occured but it sounded like a rifle going off in the cockpit. After a lighning strike there is supposed to be a maintenance inspection incase any more damage has happened.

Here is a video on an aircraft lightning strike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRfbC0R ... re=related

Cheers

[niss]

Excellent Blog his Warrior got nicked by zeus.

http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso/20 ... lightning/

http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso/20 ... still-aog/

http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso/20 ... long-time/

[On the up]

F106B 714 lightning strikes, this poor plane was also subjected to a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. Seems like a tough bastard!

http://www.oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Conce ... tning.html

Thanks for the blog link Niss. That is very unfortunate what happened to the cherokee, bad luck indeed. I hope insurance buys the guy a new plane!

[3Green]

Check out the yellow spot...there was a pin-hole the size of a freshly sharpened pencil lead, left behind after a strike during our approach into Calgary. Nothing was affected onboard. It sounded like someone pounded their fist against the fuselage...and apparently the FA's saw a flash of light go along the outside of the fuselage.
(Sorry, I'm not much of an "internerd", so I don't know how to make the picture smaller.)

[Connaught]

fixed a dash 8 300 that copped a lightning hit, entered through the nose gear doors (screws on the forward hinge) and exited out the composite tailcone(burning a nice 50 cent piece hole) and the left outboard most static wick on the left elevator burning it off in the process (that's what they're there for) also burned several rivets here and there on the tail (in the vicinity of the tailcone) - the company i work for has changed engines and props due to lightning strikes

the irony is i got in a rather heated arguement with a moron who stated that it was impossible for an airplane to get hit by lightning, this was not 24 hours after doing the lightning strike inspection on this particular dash

[Ballsssssss]

Seen a twotter after lightning strike..... blew a chunk out of the nose wheel rim, magnetized the LH prop, blew rivets out of the belly and blew a static wick and a chunk of airplane off the tip of the tail.

[Four1oh]

I forgot to mention, that, since the 748 is so goddamn loud we didn't hear the thunder, but it we did feel like someone punched us in the chest, you know, like the loud bass at a concert.

[SeptRepair]

We had our Helicopter hit last winter. If i remember correctly, 3 out of 5 blades had pockets with holes. Both Engines, Transmission, Rotor Head, Remaining blades and Drive shafts were sent away for tear down and/or inspection. Stab had an exit hole about 1 inch wide right beside the static wick. In total, about 3 mil in damages.

[boeingboy]

A composite Glassair struck on the ground!!

[Newwave]

Wow, good thing it was on the ground!

[Four1oh]

I wonder how the 787 will fare with an all composite fuselage?

[C23flyer]

A composite Glassair struck on the ground!!

I'm guessing that's not going to fly again?

[square]

I wonder how the 787 will fare with an all composite fuselage?

!!!

[ils09]

Here is a shot after we were struck enroute from Sandspit to Prince George

[oldtimer]

I read somewhere that all composite airplanes were not allowed to fly near thunderstorms for fear of a lightning strike. Can anyone confirm that.
Westex had a King Air that was struck by lightning and it caused a whole bunch of problems. Had to overhaul at least one engine and a bunch of avionics work.

[boeingboy]

All composite airplanes built by companies (including some kitplanes like the lancair where the fuse is built by the factroy) have a wire mesh or screen laminated into the composite layup to give the lighting a path to follow to the discharge wicks.

[rustytools]

It's quite possible that the Glassair would have sustained less damage had it been airborn at the time of the strike. I would like to know if the plane was grounded or not, and what difference this might have on a ground strike.