Gutsa in SA
Any idea please as to the registration?
Another example of the fine reporting of aviation accidents in this country from the ABC of course:
Did the pilot let the landing clutch out too quick and he stalled the wheels?
The pilot was flying a Beech E55 Baron when it was reported his landing clutch became "stuck".
He was spotted circling around Aldinga Airfield for about two hours before he attempted to land.
He was spotted circling around Aldinga Airfield for about two hours before he attempted to land.
There is a CLUTCH or gear engagement mechanism behind the pilot seats. It must be engaged and then disengaged depending on whether you are raising or lowering the undercarriage.
What's extraordinary about that?
Lucky he "held the nose up to avoid damage to the props"
Anxious bystanders? Guy they interviewed stopped for the entertainment.
Lucky he "held the nose up to avoid damage to the props"
Anxious bystanders? Guy they interviewed stopped for the entertainment.
There is a manual extension crank handle between the pilot seats and on the rear side of the spar carry through. It's a bugger of a thing to reach and wind, especially if you have short arms!
I'd heard the problem was that one of the mains wouldn't come down and give a safe indication but the nose and other main were fine. The pilot had cycled the U/C several times without success. Someone far more familiar with the Baron will correct me here: But I'd thought the manual extension crank handle was only useful if the U/C motor ceased functioning?
I'd heard the problem was that one of the mains wouldn't come down and give a safe indication but the nose and other main were fine. The pilot had cycled the U/C several times without success. Someone far more familiar with the Baron will correct me here: But I'd thought the manual extension crank handle was only useful if the U/C motor ceased functioning?
It would be interesting to find out whether one of the mainwheel legs was actually remaining up while the other mainwheel and the nosewheel legs were extending normally. Presumably, with all those ‘flybys’, someone on the ground would have seen whether one of the legs was not extended.
Because of the way the Baron/Bonanza undercarriage system works, it would be very unusual for one mainwheel leg and the nosewheel leg to extend normally but not the other mainwheel leg. (But I’m not saying it’s impossible and, if that’s what happened here, well done the pilot on electing to take the less risky option.)
When folded out, the manual extend crank handle just engages with the end of the drive shaft that is normally driven by the electric undercarriage motor. That’s why it’s necessary to check that the crank handle has been properly disengaged before flight: If it’s not disengaged, it will simply rotate (around 50 turns) each time the undercarriage is extended or retracted. If someone’s foot or some item of baggage comes between the crank handle and the cabin floor, the outcome is ‘badness’. It’s also why you pull the motor circuit breaker and select the undercarriage ‘down’ before practising an emergency extension. 10 cranks, rest and trim, 10 cranks, rest and trim….
A while ago I was taxiing (in a Bonanza) after landing at YSCB and a Baron pilot reported that he wasn’t getting a ‘green’ for one of the mainwheel legs. I sat on the ground and watched him fly by. I reported to Ground that, for what it was worth, the undercarriage looked normally extended to me. The pilot then carried out an uneventful landing. I don’t know whether the pilot tried swapping the indicator bulbs…
Because of the way the Baron/Bonanza undercarriage system works, it would be very unusual for one mainwheel leg and the nosewheel leg to extend normally but not the other mainwheel leg. (But I’m not saying it’s impossible and, if that’s what happened here, well done the pilot on electing to take the less risky option.)
When folded out, the manual extend crank handle just engages with the end of the drive shaft that is normally driven by the electric undercarriage motor. That’s why it’s necessary to check that the crank handle has been properly disengaged before flight: If it’s not disengaged, it will simply rotate (around 50 turns) each time the undercarriage is extended or retracted. If someone’s foot or some item of baggage comes between the crank handle and the cabin floor, the outcome is ‘badness’. It’s also why you pull the motor circuit breaker and select the undercarriage ‘down’ before practising an emergency extension. 10 cranks, rest and trim, 10 cranks, rest and trim….
A while ago I was taxiing (in a Bonanza) after landing at YSCB and a Baron pilot reported that he wasn’t getting a ‘green’ for one of the mainwheel legs. I sat on the ground and watched him fly by. I reported to Ground that, for what it was worth, the undercarriage looked normally extended to me. The pilot then carried out an uneventful landing. I don’t know whether the pilot tried swapping the indicator bulbs…
This is a very good video about the undercarriage system for Bonanza/Baron/T34 Trainer etc, though note that the indication systems vary substantially between models.
(In the earlier part of the video, the electric motor in the middle of the shots is not the undercarriage motor. It’s the flap motor. 5:49 into the video is a good shot of the undercarriage gearbox and its driveshaft, with the electric undercarriage motor at one and and the (folded) emergency extension handle at the other.)
(In the earlier part of the video, the electric motor in the middle of the shots is not the undercarriage motor. It’s the flap motor. 5:49 into the video is a good shot of the undercarriage gearbox and its driveshaft, with the electric undercarriage motor at one and and the (folded) emergency extension handle at the other.)
LB, Great video! 👍
There is no "clutch" in the gear system.
Many main gear push pull tube have broken (below the crew seats) in the past having one leg stuck up.. The nose gear has a similar issue with parts breakage.
If your gear motor fails and seizes (failed bearing)- the cranky red handle is useless.
Many main gear push pull tube have broken (below the crew seats) in the past having one leg stuck up.. The nose gear has a similar issue with parts breakage.
If your gear motor fails and seizes (failed bearing)- the cranky red handle is useless.
