I now propose to make good my "threat" in my #5878 p.294, and tell a tale which has no connection with my "Pilgrim's Progress" other than that it connects with our recent reminiscences about control locks. It is taken (memory alone) from "Flight" magazine in the early postwar years. The Editor emphasised that it came from an "
unimpeachable source" (his words), but that even so a pinch of salt might be in order. Some of our older members may remember the story.
Just after the war, the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, of Santa Monica, California, was riding the crest of a wave. Their hugely successful DC-3 (aka the much loved: "Dak", or "Gooney Bird", depending on which side of the Pond you were), had been superseded by their C-54 "Skymaster", and all the world's airlines were scrambling to buy it (except ours, as we had no dollars left, after paying for the war 'n all).
It was a nosewheel four-engined low wing airliner (50-odd passengers), at a time when
we were still building obsolescent tailwheelers (and would continue to do so for some time to come). And it had internal mechanical locks, applied on the Flight Deck, for all control cables. It is good practice to ensure that these are released before attempting flight, and a Bad Idea to tinker with them after you have achieved it.
NOW READ ON FOR THE "FLIGHT" STORY.
This particular "Skymaster" was on a scheduled flight somewhere in the cloudless skies over the Southwestern States. There were three "up front", the Captain, First Officer and a Training Captain in the "jump seat" immediately behind them. The Captain was having his Annual Competency Check for his licence, and this chap was the Check Rider. They can't have been more than 10,000 ft up, for the aircraft was not pressurised.
The Check Rider was well satisfied with his examinee, for he was doing fine. He was conducting the flight strictly in accordance with all the Company's Regulations. The Check Rider had "ticked all the boxes". He had nothing else to do and was feeling bored. The Devil finds work for idle hands such as his, and he sent an evil imp to whisper in the Check Rider's ear. Why not present the Captain with an Unusual Situation. and see how he got on ?
Behind him, in easy reach, was the Control Lock for the elevators. In those days, control runs were very simple. There was no power-assistance. Take the rudder for instance. This was connected to the rudder bar on the Flight Deck by "two pieces of string", like a rowing boat on a Park lake (and all the control runs were much the same). The locks simply clamped the cables and rods of the linkages (which
were in fact a bit better than "string") so that they could not move. Of course these locks should never be touched in flight.
Nevertheless the Check Rider thought it a Good Idea. Surreptitiously he locked the elevators.
As the lock simply held the elevators where they already were, there was no immediate effect. Then the aircraft started very slowly to climb, though it was on automatic pilot. The Captain, who was the "handling pilot" for this sector, trimmed slightly nose-down. This, of course, had no effect as the control runs were clamped. So he trimmed a bit more. And then a bit more still.
The Check Rider watched, fascinated. How long would it take for the penny to drop ? Why didn't he try to move the yoke fore-and-aft (which would be locked too, but at least he should then guess what had happened). At last the Captain had almost full nose-down trim on. The Check Rider decided that this joke had gone on quite long enough.
He unlocked the elevators !
The full nose trim now took control. The aircraft savagely "bunted" (
a "bunt" is an inverted loop). The autopilot gave up in despair. Check Rider and Captain were thrown out of their seats, the latter onto the yoke (which did not help matters) and both then onto the panels and screen, then rolled onto the cabin roof as the thing turned over. In their frantic scrabbling, someone hit two feathering buttons on one side, shutting down two engines.
There was a Company rule that one pilot must always be strapped-in. They were doing everything "by the book". Miraculously, the strapped in F/O saved the aircraft (probably aided by the two dead engines, which helped him to roll out). With a thousand feet left he got back to level flight, and unfeathered the two engines. Captain and Check Rider were both battered and bruised, but still alive. ( A veil must be drawn over the scene in the passenger cabin !) They made a bee-line for the nearest airfield and landed. People staggered down the steps and kissed the ground (wouldn't you ?)
End of story, as far as "Flight" told it. But the questions crowd in. How did the wings stay on ? - they must have been stressed far beyond any designer's worst imagination. And what about the passengers ? How did they manage to keep
them quiet - and the story out of the papers ?
That's all (as "Flight" told it). Believe it or not as you will. I keep an open mind.
Goodnight, all,
Danny42C.
Blimey !