Flying Low NZ Flight Test

[yellowlines]

Having a debate at the aeroclub over this one.
Who has gone below 500ft in a NZ Flight Test when carrying out the Forced Landing Without Power demo?
(as is legally allowed for a FLWOP as an Instructor, other conditions granted).
If so, did you do call it, or did the examiner call it?

[Artificial Horizon]

Yep, I went so low on the CPL flight test that I had actually decided in my own mind that we were going to actually land in this field. The examiner said he would tell me when to go around. We must have been down to around 50-75 ft when he said 'go-around'. When I was an instructor I found a little field in the south of England that was actually used as a private strip. I had permission of the owner and would actually get my students to land much to thier shock and horror. Good lesson for them though.

[AutopilotEngage]

Generally the examiner will tell you before the flight who's calling the 'go-around', and they will usually get you to go below 500' agl

[framer]

Think we probably got down to about 5ft agl. It was in a low flying area.

[topdrop]

My instructor was an ag pilot - believe he went back to it after training me
On a practice forced landing in a PA28 - I didn't have any flap out as I had misjudged the approach and I also missed the powerlines about 50 metres before the fenceline I was trying to clear. I admitted my f...kup and was about to go round when the Instructor took over - we went under the powerlines and then he pulled on the flaps and we ballooned over the fence for what would have been a great forced landing, powered up and off for another attempt. It certainly showed me that the same old routine can be altered to achieve the desired result.

[amishtechie]

Yea I called "I will go around at your discretion" in both my instructors and CPL flight tests and both times got down to 200ft before being told to go around. Not to mention getting to the flare in the precautionary landing in the LFZ!

[tartare]

Got so low the wheels crossed the fence.
At that point I said "I am going around..." consciously disobeying the command that I would be instructed when to go around.
As we climbed away, the CFI turned to me and smiled and said "I was waiting to see if you would do that..."

[yellowlines]

Hey, this is great guys, though sorry just want to hear about NZ examples specifically, and if you can put the examiner initials that would be good too

[KerryT]

I did (NZ - North Shore ~3years ago). In a PPL flight test doing a FLWOP I called "go around" at 550 AGL and the flight examiner called "continue" - I think he did this because we were a bit high and it was doubtful whether we would make the field. At this point I considered the examiner was acting as PIC, so I threw on full flaps and started forward-slipping down to about 200' which got us aiming for a good point on the field. At 150 AGL I called "go around" again and started applying power - the examiner said "OK, go around" and we were away again. Then climbing through 600' the examiner pulled the throttle closed without warning and we did the engine failure on take-off drill in a similar fashion.

[Jimbo33]

In the lead up to my PPL flight test, went up with a B Cat from CAC. Went to LFZ1 (for those familiar) and he asked me to do a precautionary landing.

Was looking pretty good, and I was all set to go around at maybe 200' AGL, when he told me to keep going...keep going...keep going. We actually ended up landing, main wheels on the ground for maybe 4-5 secs. Was rough as all hell.

I was honestly quite disturbed by it, and very surprised that we actually landed. I did some discreet questioning back at the club, and it does happen from time to time. Apparently good experience for a student to feel what it's like to land on something other than a runway. Even though it was a very nice, flat, smooth paddock, it was still very very rough.

I guess in this particular LFZ, the instructors are so familiar with it they know which paddocks are suitable for a brief touch and go. If you line up on the right one, they'll sometimes make the call to go all the way.

While I'm sure some would disagree, I think was a great experience. Nice to have some idea of what to expect in the unlikely event of a precautionary landing or FLWOP.

[Lindstrim]

I've heard stories about IAANZ students landing on a padock in front of an instructors house whilst on a cross country. (Cant confirm this as got it 3rd or 4th hand).

In my PPL and CPL i did end up going a bit lower than 500ft during my FLWOP and in the climb out from the LFZ I was about 50ft above the beach, on a simulated engine failure

[yellowlines]

Seems the old examiners do it quite a bit aye, either to make sure of the landing or see if you call it perhaps. For the FLWOP below 500ft it doesn't have to be into the LFZ. Any more NZ stories, keep it going.

[flyinkiwi]

I didn't get below 500AGL when I performed the FLWOP during my PPL checkride, it was during the EFATO during the subsequent climbout where I did, but not below 350AGL. The examiner was not happy with the paddock I had picked and wanted me to choose another and set up for it.

I've been well into the round out in the LFZ before being instructed to go around during my training however. Lets just say that when an instructor pulls that on you, you don't lie awake at night wondering if you would have made it!

[pushplay]

EFATO - do what it takes to miss the obstacles while still airborne, and be prepared to brake as per the AFM or take ground looping action. Stay alive! PFLWOP, old skool ehh, if you are not sure at 500'agl you are sure going to understand this is not right at 50' agl. I seem to remember- aim 50% into the length of the chosen best option and then use flap to bring the touchdown point closer to the "threshold" - then as per EFATO.

[Fark'n'ell]

KerryT

At this point I considered the examiner was acting as PIC, so I threw on full flaps and started forward-slipping down to about 200'

What on earth is a Forward Slip?

[toolowtoofast]

Full flap side (or forward - whatever) slips? What aircraft? Alpha/Robin? Pre PPL?

[KerryT]

Opinions will probably vary, but here's mine:

A side slip is what you use in a cross-wind approach - wing down & top rudder to keep the plane lined up on the runway. Can be held into the flare.

A forward slip is specifically to blow off height in a hurry - full flaps, nose down, wing-down and lots of top rudder. The aircraft still tracks towards the landing point but the fuselage is not in line with it. Airspeed must be kept higher (75-85kts in the little Robin I was in). Must straighten out & slow down before landing flare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_(aerodynamic)

[Oktas8]

Forward Slip (n):

• An intentional slip performed by a pilot from the US of A for the purpose of going forwards and down.
• The aircraft will also travel sideways.

Side Slip (n):

• An intentional slip performed by a pilot from just about any country, for the purpose of going sideways and down.
• The aircraft will also travel forwards.

Slip (n):

• An unstalled and unbalanced condition of flight, usually with constant heading.
• See also forward slip and side slip.

Back to the topic...

[toolowtoofast]

I know what a side/forward/backward/inverted slip is.

What does the AFM say about intentional slipping with flap?

[yellowlines]

NZ examples

kick

back to the topic!