Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUB Fatalities...

["Captain Nemo" <vulcania@interpac.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <VBra676539@aol.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2000 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUB Fatalities...


> Pat,
> I read the short form on the accident. As I understand it, the hatch
closure handwheels were reversed. One sub turned clockwise (and that was the
co-pilot's training sub) and the other sub turned counter-clockwise so when
the co-pilot went to check the hatch as the sub was diving on a press
junket/PR extravaganza, he turned it the wrong way, the hatch sloshed open
(it was just at the surface and on the way down) and flooded the aft sphere
which put them tail down on the bottom in 30-odd meters of water. I think it
was the co-pilot who drowned and the pilot got the passenger out with
outside assistance. It must have been one serious horrific few minutes!
> Haven't heard about the German deal. Keep us up to date please.
> Vance
>
>

MOANA: Wow.  What can I say?  I'll spare everyone my critique and comments;
I think it's probably pretty obvious to everyone what went wrong, and what
could have been done to avoid it.  Reminds me of what we used to say in
General Aviation and Skydiving, though: it's usually a combination of
factors that kills ya.  Thanks for the info.  It's a big help.

Sounds to me like a lot of the fatalities I'm researching could have been
avoided if SCUBA was available to the occupants.  Were any of the subs you
professionally piloted SCUBA equipped; and or, what do you think of the
idea?  (I've always got an 80-cubic footer with a complete octopus with me
in my sub, with the 2nd stage within arms reach.)  SCUBA shouldn't be used
by non-certified individuals, but maybe a controlled emergency procedure
could be developed?

When we'd take non-jumpers up as observers, we'd fit them with a harness and
a reserve; give them a briefing for emergency purposes; and when I was
flying the TU-206, If the "wing broke" and the passenger "froze",  my plan
was to push the passenger out ahead of me and dump his rig before my own, if
I could.  Maybe the aquatic version of something like this would save lives
in small subs?

The FAA establishes Federal Aviation Regulations, which are as laws.  The
USPA establishes Doctrine which is, shall we say, based on generally
accepted procedure and highly recommended, if compliance therewith is not
legally binding.  Does DSPA do anything like this to control the operation
of small commercially operated subs; or does some other agency?

Had to go to work last night and wasn't able to do much more digging on the
German fatality; will continue, though, and of course will pass on what I
learn.

Pat