Every now and then someone asks, Whats your favorite airplane? Before one stormy January evening, that was a tough call for someone with 47 years and 12,000 hours of flying. After that evening, one particular turboprop twin always takes first prize.
A pilot recounted experiencing a severe, "industrial strength" lightning strike during a winter flight in a King Air B200, which caused a blinding flash but initially presented no obvious flight control issues.
Post-landing inspection revealed extensive hidden damage, including melted propeller metal, "welded" control pulley bearings, and a near-catastrophic failure of the propeller reduction gears that would have occurred minutes later.
The incident, attributed to rare "thundersnow," highlighted the exceptional resilience and design of the King Air B200, which allowed the crew to land safely despite the critical damage, cementing its status as the pilot's favorite aircraft.
Every now and then someone asks, “What’s your favorite airplane?” Before one stormy January evening, that was a tough call for someone with 47 years and 12,000 hours of flying. After that evening, one particular turboprop twin always takes first prize.
The Crime Scene
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