Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

[richgj3]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

I also was interested to see they retained the bell crank. I had the right aileron bell crank fracture on my t-craft which I owned from 1974 thru 1986. It is 95618. Mine was tied down outside with no external locks, just the control wheels tied and I assume a strong wind over powered it. I dont even know if the part was the same on the airplane in question as it was on the 46 model.

The news video shows the airplane with both ailerons down. Could be the result of the impact or the cause of it.


Rich G

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

There are a few of us who want to get the wreckage to look more closely for any problems. Several of us are past or present crash investigators. Until we get to look closely at the wreckage it is hard to say what happened and the official report won't be available for quite a while. The greatest knowledge base on Taylorcrafts is right here in this group. We may well be able to see something the NTSB or FAA wouldn't. The purpose is NOT to find something they missed. Just to make sure no stone is left un-turned. We owe that to one of our own.
We would also like to make sure Laura gets a fair price for any parts while making sure all of the borrowed parts (from Josh and by him) are returned properly. If you have any parts from Josh or he has any of yours, please let me know and when the stuff is all sorted out we will try and make sure everything is put in order.
There is also some though being given to restoring his plane. It was a beauty and he really loved it. Hard for me to think of her being parted out, but there is no way there is any money to be made in a restoration with damage that bad. This will have to be a long term project with only a slight hope of ever breaking even and lots of donated labor.
For me, working on a Taylorcraft is therapy (those who know me know I need LOTS of therapy). We will be putting more info out if the plan pulls together, but for now, please let me know if you have or are owed any parts or materials.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

It has been over a month now since we lost Josh. We are still hoping to get his plane and engine for a full tear-down. I want to know what happened. Laura had the plane placed in his hangar in order to allow time for a clear headed decision on what to do next. I know how hard it has been on all his friends, so I can only imagine what Laura has gone through.
I still need anyone else who had borrowed or loaned parts to contact me. When the time comes we will probably go down and try and sort out who should get back what and we will work with his EAA chapter to make a final determination on handling the wreckage. So far the box of parts to be returned is small enough to fit in my car trunk.
His chapter is planning a fly in in October and I will post information on it. It would be great if the weather would cooperate and we could get some of Josh's friends down for the fly-in.
Please drop me a line if you have or are owed any parts.
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

Every time I reach for the throttle on my plane I think of Josh. His nicely done red throttle knob is a constant reminder of a guy who was always there to help. As I redo my instrument panel this winter, and install the placards he made, the memories will be even more difficult to deal with. But, it will be a nice mini-memorial to a guy who affected so many lives.

[jim cooper]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

This fellows accident is a terrible thing. Looking at the accident photo one would think he could have survived. Very distressing and sad. He certainly must have been an excellent pilot and I feel sure, from your comments, a good guy. I hope someone here is able to restore it and fly it once again in his honor. JC

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Josh Brehm "Bashibazouk" (was: Faa preliminary accident report)

Guys, this weekend is the fly-in at South Oaks Aerodrome (NC47) where Josh flew. It is sponsored by his EAA chapter, EAA1423, and looks like it will be a great time with several remembrances of Josh and a chance to get to meet some of his closest friends. Many of us were close friends with Josh, and many of those never got the opportunity to actually meet him face to face. This is a chance to go to an event where Josh called home, and if we can get enough Taylorcrafts there maybe do a missing man fly over.
I will be there with Ray Bosollo but we will be flying down in his Swift (probably the most beautiful plane you will ever get to see, even if it ISN'T a "T"). It looks like we can't get in to South Oaks and may have to land at a near by airport since the Swift lands just a "bit" hot.
Hope ot see some other guys I haven't met face to face there. I will attempt to attach the flyer to this message, but in case it doesn't attach here is some info.
Time 10:00 ...... October 15, 2011
Lat 35.28.58
Long 77.21.12
Runway 7/25 1900' Turf
Freq. 122.8
Elevation 50'

Hope to see a bunch of you guys there.
Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

I'm almost apologetic to resurrect this thread, but I see the final report into the accident has been issued.

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20110728X64506&key=1

It appears that a medical condition could not be ruled out.
My thoughts are with Laura today.

After a local flight, the vintage airplane was approaching the pilot's home airport on a very hot day (36 degrees C [97 degrees F]), and the cockpit was most likely hot as well. As the airplane approached perpendicular to the runway, it maintained a nose-down, left bank attitude, consistent with no further control inputs from the pilot. The airplane impacted the left side of runway, approximately one-third down the runway, pivoted 180 degrees, and came to rest about 20 feet from the initial impact point. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Although the autopsy report listed the cause of death as multiple injuries related to the crash, it also noted significant coronary artery disease and a tiny scar of the papillary muscle. Both suggested the possibility of a cardiac arrhythmia or heart attack that may have resulted in incapacitation. Additionally, the pilot's medical history revealed a vasovagal (fainting) episode due to nausea and vomiting about 2 years prior to the accident. Neither a vasovagal episode nor cardiac arrhythmia would have left any evidence for discovery during autopsy. As such, pilot incapacitation is possible in this accident because of the lack of control inputs as the airplane approached the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons as the autopsy was unable to reveal any definitive conditions that would have led to the loss of control.

[M Towsley]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

I 'spoke' with Hank about this after it came out. I found several mistakes in the report, if you read it closely. Minor, but irritating from an agency that should proofread before publishing. I still am sad over this. I just moved today a small box of Josh's parts he made for me and it brings back memories.

[jim cooper]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

Strange that he passed his demanding physical for the airlines. I have had some cardio problems in the past years although Hopkins tells me my heart plumbing wise is ok. however I could never pass an ATP physical. It might be that he passed out due to the heat and his pacemaker acting up. Was the Taylorcraft a "trycicle" gear airplane or did they mean tail wheel?This accident really set my wheels turning as I'm sure he was a better pilot than I am and he seemed to be doing everything right up till the last second! It's really a shame! Hank I will PM you, need advise. Best Jim C.

[M Towsley]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

It was a pre-war tailwheel aircraft. Just one of the minor discrepancies noted.

[jim cooper]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

Most responders probably don't really know initially what they are looking at,type model, etc. Did any of you ever get TO the site to check it out? It looked as though, with a shoulder harness he might have been injured but still survived. At my advanced age I always give these type accidents a lot of attention as it could very well be yours truly! ALOT of accidents seem to be the opposite, especially on these "older" aircraft. IE: Aircraft was preflighted, witness said they saw fuel status being checked, engine was preflighted, and run thru several RPM checks. Takeoff uneventful BUT at 200 feet engine " seemed not to run right" aircraft stalled and spun to runway killing the commercial rated pilot who had 300 hours in this aircraft. Unquote......this seems common in these reviews! " Don't send to ask for whom the bell tolls....it tolls for thou!" JC

[Bird]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

From what I read in the intial report this is the same type of injury that caught Dale Ernhart at Daytona

[M Towsley]

Re: Faa preliminary accident report

NTSB are not responders, they are trained investigators. Aircraft data is on and inside the aircraft. No excuse, I would have been called on the carpet for those types of mistakes. Plus, even a person that doesn't know if the pointy end goes forward can figure out if a wheel is hung on the nose, or the tail.

I believe Hank mentioned that shoulder harnesses were not installed, if I remember correctly.