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| (Photo: Anthony V. Coppola/Staff Photo) |
Planes damaged as fast-moving storm blows through South Jersey
Anthony V. Coppola, Vineland Daily Journal
July 27, 2018
MILLVILLE, NJ - Two planes were damaged at Millville Executive Airport on Friday morning after a powerful, wind-packed storm rolled through the area.
A single-engine plane that had been tied down on the tarmac pivoted in high winds, it's left rear wheel landing atop the wing of another aircraft tied down next to it.
The planes were unmanned and no injuries were reported in the incident.
Delaware River and Bay Authority Airport Operations Specialist Andrew Bunn was on scene when the storm hit. Bunn said airport personnel moved inside to shelter during the event, which featured repeated lightning strikes and high winds.
"As soon as it's deemed safe to go ahead back out on the airfield we go out and do a post-storm investigation," Bunn said, adding that's when he discovered the damaged planes.
Officials believed the rear tie down strap failed on one of the planes — a fixed-wing, single-engine Savannah model aircraft registered to ICP Aviation North America of Archer City, Texas.
A small prop plane rests atop another aircraft following a storm that hit the Millville Executive Airport Friday morning. (Photo: Delaware River and Bay Authority)
Sarah Johnson, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, told The Daily Journal a single storm that originated in Maryland moved across the Delaware Bay and "pulsed up" as it made its way toward Millville shortly before 10:30 a.m.
"Our highest wind gusts from that storm, 51 mph, actually occurred at Millville airport," Johnson said.
Multiple runway lights also were knocked out due to the storm, according to Bunn.
Electric crews were working to repair them Friday afternoon.
"That's fairly common," Bunn said. "Anytime lightning strikes in the area you can get a little string of lights out. It's like Christmas lights, you break one in the middle, the whole strand goes out."
The Millville Army Air Field Museum also felt the effects of the storm.
Lisa Jester, the museum's executive director, said the building was taking on water in various areas as a result of heavy rainfall. The staff there spent a good part of their morning vacuuming flooded portions of the museum. No artifacts were damaged, according to Jester.
I.C.P. Savannah S is the premier light-sport STOL platform with its combination of short field, payload and cruise performance.
Savannah TM S is an all metal, side-by-side seating airframe with a strut supported high-wing. The wing is a high-lift NACA 650-18 modified airfoil with flaperons. Two, large lateral doors allow easy access, and offer removability for flight. Unprecedented visibility is provided as both cockpit doors and roof are transparent. A 45-pound baggage hold is flight-accessible behind the seats. Vortex generators (VGs) contribute to a performance envelope for utilities from 30-111 mph. The specifications include an aluminum alloy main gear for durable grass field operations.
Aircraft Description
| Serial Number | 17-01-54-0520 | Status | Valid |
| Manufacturer Name | ICP SRL | Certificate Issue Date | 06/02/2017 |
| Model | SAVANNAH S | Expiration Date | 06/30/2020 |
| Type Aircraft | Fixed Wing Single-Engine | Type Engine | 4 Cycle |
| Pending Number Change | None | Dealer | No |
| Date Change Authorized | None | Mode S Code (base 8 / oct) | 53360076 |
| MFR Year | 2017 | Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) | ADE03E |
| Type Registration | Corporation | Fractional Owner | NO |
Registered Owner
| Name | I C P AVIATION NORTH AMERICA LLC | ||
| Street | PO BOX 734 | ||
| City | ARCHER CITY | State | TEXAS |
| County | ARCHER | Zip Code | 76351-0734 |
| Country | UNITED STATES | ||
Airworthiness
| Engine Manufacturer | ROTAX | Classification | Light Sport |
| Engine Model | 912ULS2 | Category | Airplane |
| A/W Date | 10/15/2017 | Exception Code | No |
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