Aircraft towed after battery failure
A float plane suffering mechanical issues was towed to safety early this morning by Gerd Mannsperger of Alpine Aviation.
A float plane suffering mechanical issues was towed to safety early this morning by Gerd Mannsperger of Alpine Aviation.
“It was really lucky that Gerd was able to come out and get me,” said the pilot, who requested anonymity.
“They’re the only people I know to call on the lake.”
Mannsperger told the Star he received a call at around 6:30 this morning from the pilot, who was floating on the lake with a dead battery.
According to Mannsperger, the pilot was able to start the aircraft this morning but noticed immediately that the radio wasn’t working.
This prompted the pilot to shut off the engine and check for technical difficulties, thinking perhaps a blown fuse was to blame.
When the pilot tried to restart the engine, the battery was too weak for that, so they called Alpine Aviation for help.
“We are the only guys on the lake with a safety boat, so we scooted out and brought her back to the dock,” Mannsperger said.
He sped out onto the lake with his rescue assistant, a border collie named Tutshi, in the passenger seat.
“She always goes with me, wherever I go,” Mannsperger explained, chuckling.
When the Star spoke with Mannsperger at around 9 a.m. today, the battery was still being recharged at Alpine’s dock and awaiting inspection from a mechanic.
“It was just a battery issue, nothing serious,” Mannsperger said. “It was a really benign issue.”
The pilot was travelling from B.C. in a commercial de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver airplane, and had intended to make a short visit to Whitehorse.
“I should be on my way soon,” the pilot said.
Comments (9)
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Max Mack on Sep 3, 2019 at 4:49 pm
@Atom
You said, "it's not difficult to interpret a bylaw or regulation when looking for what is and isn't allowed."
Apparently you haven't met one of the many "inspectors" who populate innumerable branches and layers of government and who routinely impose their version of the rules on those they feel are beneath them.
From building inspectors to safety inspectors, "enforcement" has become the domain of idealogues and bullies who will grind you to dust should you oppose their demands. Once you are in their sights, I say good luck to you. I hope you never have to meet one of them.
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Mark Chapman on Aug 29, 2019 at 8:47 pm
Nice story and outcome.
There obviously is a benefit of having the boat at Alpine Aviation.
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Oya on Aug 29, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Hard to believe sometimes what the Whse Star thinks is news.
When a REAL story and accompanying letters like the teacher doing the student and everyone knowing about it and doing nothing about it gets relegated to the back pages only to make way for a story like this, I just have to wonder.
No offense to Gerd; not trying to distract from your issue; kudos to you for being a good Yukoner!
I boosted my neighbors vehicle last week. Should I have called the Star to report on that? Next time, I'll be sure to take a picture worthy of the front page. Would they prefer a pic of the booster cables, the vehicle or the float plane flying above?
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Groucho d'North on Aug 29, 2019 at 2:41 pm
This is good evidence that the Northern spirit still lives on despite all the efforts to regulate and manage people and their activities. I recall last winter when I pulled over to assist a fellow traveler who was parked on the side of the Mayo Rd. I have always stopped in the winter season to check to ensure all is well and lend assistance if required. Instead I got barked at by the yuppie in the LandCruiser who was "obeying the law" as he put it and had pulled oved to take or make a cell phone call.
The Yukon is evolving to become yet another community where people are so caught up in their own lives and schedules that they have no time to help others when fate or circumstance deal us a joker from the deck of life. That's a pity. I recall we were a much more civilized populace fifty years ago and people were quick to offer help when bad situations happened.
Kudos to Gerd for keeping the best traditions alive despite all those trying to grind him down.
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Atom on Aug 29, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Convenient timing for this ...rescue....how does the paper find out about happenings?...who took the photo?
The only explanation for the issues between Alpine and the City is that the permittee is playing games in an effort to get what regulation and bylaw won't and didn't permit them to have from the beginning...the City is not a well oiled machine but it's not difficult to interpret a bylaw or regulation when looking for what is and isn't allowed. It seems easy to spin it though.
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SheepChaser on Aug 28, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Only operation on the lake with a safety boat... Interesting.
Hope the city staff reading this article appreciate how much it would cost them to replicate such a service. Alpine continues to demonstrate their professionalism and dedication to safety. Maybe just leave them dock 11, yeah? You'll avoid looking so foolish and petty. If more dock space is required for private toys, build some. Not so difficult.
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Mick on Aug 28, 2019 at 6:47 pm
What are the odds this story breaks now?
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Josey Wales on Aug 28, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Careful Gerd...the king may release the hounds on you for towing without a permit, assisting a citizen without a permit, no life jacket on your pooch,
Having fun and enjoying being helpful without a permit, using a non Government approved rope...without a permit of course.
Is your dog civically legal? Have a being a dog permit?
Careful Gerd, you keep this up and you might be in a yoke outside that barn the CoW hides ...on the kings orders?
Did you consult the CoW before being so outta the box, and actually be helpful?
Acting in such a manor up here is counterproductive to the selfish gene so often incubated, legislated, lobbied, collectively bargained for, that creates...these fiefdoms of civic ineptitude using massive amounts of other people’s money as the lubricity for stupid.
Sorry folks for potentially maxing your sarcasm meters.
Gerd, thanks for coming to aid a beaver in distress.
Oh yeah...dog looking happy without a canine glee permit.
Dog on the lake on cat day?
As stupid as it all reads, given enough time to incubate?
Could be next summers big civic issue, what day dogs and cats are “permitted” to be on the kings waters...dunno?
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Arthur on Aug 28, 2019 at 5:56 pm
Well that was certainly fortuitous timing and highly ironic, considering recent events. I’ve known Gerd and Janet for 15 years. Alpine Aviation is a credit to the aviation community and an asset for Whitehorse and tourism. Glad they are there and ready to help out anyone in a jam.