|
|
|
OUC
Crews Restore Power After Plane Crash
Linemen respond minutes
after plane hits OUC utility pole
ORLANDO - When a
small, private plane crashed into an OUC utility pole Tuesday afternoon, line
crews responded with speed and efficiency to begin restoration work within
minutes of the incident.
The plane’s pilot, who had reported engine trouble, was attempting an emergency
landing near the Dubsdread golf course when the plane’s wing clipped a utility
cable, sending the aircraft careening into a power pole. The impact
snapped the 45-foot concrete pole in half and caused protective relays to trip,
interrupting power to some 900 area homes and businesses.
While emergency personnel attended to the severely injured pilot and his
passenger, OUC crews began switching operations. Linemen restored power to
nearly 800
(87 percent) of the affected customers within 47 minutes.
 |
|
Crews remove a
small plane that snapped an OUC pole during a crash
landing in Orlando on Tuesday. |
|
Power was restored to
36 more customers in just under 90 minutes. Once crews were able to re-route
lines from the broken pole, service was restored to the remaining customers in
just more than three hours after the crash.
OUC crews arriving on the scene positioned a digger/derrick truck to stabilize
the broken pole, which was supporting the plane and three unbroken 15 kv
distribution lines. After an initial inspection by crash investigators, the
aircraft was removed and linemen worked through the night to replace damaged
equipment. The system was restored to normal by 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Fortunately, OUC’s protective equipment worked properly and de-energized the
lines upon impact. However, OUC cautions that power lines can be deadly and
always to wait for utility personnel to verify that electricity is off before
approaching downed wires.
Established in 1923 and owned by the
citizens of Orlando, OUC—The Reliable One provides electric and water services
to more than 190,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated
Orange and Osceola counties. OUC is the second-largest public power utility in
Florida.
|
|
