Gear up landing - grass vs sealed strip ?
I'm just at the PPL training stage, how does feathering the prop make a gear up landing worse?
basically when the prop is fine and contacts the ground, it just bends backwards. When its fully feathered or almost at zero angle to the direction of aircraft travel, it wont bend, it digs in. This is particularly bad on grass or soft earth as it can violently decelerate the aircraft, either ripping structures apart or even flipping the aircraft if the engine mounts dont give way.
Then there was the C-310 working for the CSIRO Rain Making which did a wheels up due u/c probs. at Mascot many years ago - grass I think.
T'was the twin bladed prop version of the time. Pilot stopped engines in flight, by 'reducing airspeed', punched starter motors till blades were horizontal, then put it down with minimal VISIBLE damage.
The Sydney Morning Herald of the time had photos.
Plenty of room at the largely 'uncluttered' Mascot of those days.
Then again there was also the C210 - BRAND NEW ONE - which did a real 'oooops...' wheels up at Cessnock on the bitumin the late 60's...very smooothh landing otherrwise....and minimal damage to airframe apparently.
(Skin, ADF antenna etc)
Have to agree with the 'Hard Stuff'....makes a lot of noise, but is better for both you and the machine I reckon...
T'was the twin bladed prop version of the time. Pilot stopped engines in flight, by 'reducing airspeed', punched starter motors till blades were horizontal, then put it down with minimal VISIBLE damage.
The Sydney Morning Herald of the time had photos.
Plenty of room at the largely 'uncluttered' Mascot of those days.
Then again there was also the C210 - BRAND NEW ONE - which did a real 'oooops...' wheels up at Cessnock on the bitumin the late 60's...very smooothh landing otherrwise....and minimal damage to airframe apparently.
(Skin, ADF antenna etc)
Have to agree with the 'Hard Stuff'....makes a lot of noise, but is better for both you and the machine I reckon...
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basically when the prop is fine and contacts the ground, it just bends backwards. When its fully feathered or almost at zero angle to the direction of aircraft travel, it wont bend, it digs in. This is particularly bad on grass or soft earth as it can violently decelerate the aircraft, either ripping structures apart or even flipping the aircraft if the engine mounts dont give way.
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If you happen to be flying a Fairy Gannet and can't get the gear down you open the bomb bay doors and land on the bitumen suitably foamed. Only damage a new pair of bomb bay doors. 
Last edited by Exaviator; 29th May 2009 at 23:01.
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Cessna 310 Maccot
Ex FSO GRIFFO:
Do you have any more details of the above incident?
My own incident in a Cessna 310 at Mascot was with a jammed towing cable, with an aerodynamic 'bomb' trailing behind the aircraft.
Regards
Tmb
Do you have any more details of the above incident?
My own incident in a Cessna 310 at Mascot was with a jammed towing cable, with an aerodynamic 'bomb' trailing behind the aircraft.
Regards
Tmb
Sorry Mr 'T',
Was far too long ago - about the time I was commencing I think - early 60's or thereabouts. (?)
CSIRO had two 310's doing the silver iodide cloud seeding bit, and one got into a little strife re the u/c. I think they may have been Mascot based on contract at the time.
Would it have been 'Adastra' who ran them perhaps??
Someone may remember......I'm getting to the stage where I wonder 'What I had for brekkie'...or even IF I had it!!
Cheers
Was far too long ago - about the time I was commencing I think - early 60's or thereabouts. (?)
CSIRO had two 310's doing the silver iodide cloud seeding bit, and one got into a little strife re the u/c. I think they may have been Mascot based on contract at the time.
Would it have been 'Adastra' who ran them perhaps??
Someone may remember......I'm getting to the stage where I wonder 'What I had for brekkie'...or even IF I had it!!
Cheers
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Griffo, it may be the same aircraft, but I think I remember being impressed reading in the crash comic about an Aztec that did the same thing. (I'm probably wrong again.)
The Aztec was in Fiji. The pilot stopped the engines and tried to set the props to horizontal with the starter. Didn't get the job done. The props (feathered) dug in - flipped the aeroplane on its back - crushed the cabin - killed the pilot.
Dr
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If you happen to be flying a Fairy Gannet
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USAF Flight manual very clear, if available for gear uo landings always use sealed surface to minimise damage to airframe and protect crew. Lay foam path if firefighting appliances are equipped.
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Cessna 310 incident Mascot
Ex FSO GRIFFO:
My C310 incident was in November 1965 at Mascot. There was a story around in those days about a Twin landing with the both propellers featherd and horizontal. For various reasons I did not consider doing this action.
In 1966 an organization in south west New South Wales, had a CSIRO contract with two Cessna 310's on Cloud Seeding and I was part of this team.
Before 1966 I think the Cloud Seeding contract also used two Cessna 310 aircraft, from my memory I think that they were based in Tamworth, although it may have been 'Adastra' in Sydney.
Tmb
My C310 incident was in November 1965 at Mascot. There was a story around in those days about a Twin landing with the both propellers featherd and horizontal. For various reasons I did not consider doing this action.
In 1966 an organization in south west New South Wales, had a CSIRO contract with two Cessna 310's on Cloud Seeding and I was part of this team.
Before 1966 I think the Cloud Seeding contract also used two Cessna 310 aircraft, from my memory I think that they were based in Tamworth, although it may have been 'Adastra' in Sydney.
Tmb
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What about gravel?
The only one I've seen was a Duchess on gravel - no damage at all hardly (except a couple of bent props, two shockloaded engines and some relatively minor scrapes underneath.) A couple of LAMES came along, jacked it up, dropped the gear and it almost looked like it could have flown away. Same aircraft is still a cornerstone of muti-engie training at BK - some probably know it well.
As for heroics trying to stop props hoizontally and the like - don't bother unless you really care about the insurance company. The owner got two new props and engine overhauls out of the above.
As for heroics trying to stop props hoizontally and the like - don't bother unless you really care about the insurance company. The owner got two new props and engine overhauls out of the above.
