PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Plane down in Polzeath, Cornwall
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Old 15th October 2015 | 17:38
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rgsaero
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 165
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From: London
Great flying! But nothing new from the "emergency services" then! Just six fire engines in rural Cornwall? Three would have been too many. Hope no-one local set the chip pan on fire.

I recall some years ago popping up to Elstree to check something on my aeroplane. When I arrived at the car park I found four fire engines, two ambulances two police cars and three police motorcycles! On the runway was a Baron with a collapsed right u/c leg, covered in foam. Presumably a major emergency with multiple occupants at risk of death, I thought.

But no! The a/c had been away for maintenance..on the undercarriage. On return, ferried by a solo professional (rather than PPL) the right leg had hung up. After many orbits to run manual lowering and checks plus fuel burn-off, and of course emergency declared, it approached, right engine shut down on short final and a very gentle landing with minimal damage.

"No wrecks, nobdy drownded etc"

As I was leaving about 20 minutes later and at least 30 minutes after the "event" I commented to the three motorcycle cops still standing doing nothing that it would be a great day to rob a bank in Watford as all the police were at Elstree doing not a lot of patrolling...; they threatened to arrest me for "insulting behaviour" but I pointed out that I was simply stating the truth.... The facts wouldn't look very good in court etc. Their minds changed, I left.

Nothing changes....
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