Corsair Wheels Up: Hunter Valley Airshow, Maitland
 

Any news about the wheels up landing at the Hunter Valley Air Show in the corsair VH III , Peter Clements is ok, walked away UN injured.

Reported as in flight hydraulic failure, landed wheels up as a result. Some damage visible in a photo seen on HAA page on farcebook, but pilot uninjured thank goodness. Happened at Maitland, I believe and aircraft is back on its wheels and been towed away.

Edit: Seems I may have been sold the expurgated version of the story; word has it that the lack of undercarriage was as much a surprise inside the aircraft as out.

Video of the unhappy event; https://web.facebook.com/jamie.hayes...1924648684416/

If there's to be a humorous side to this.... listen carefully to the background music playing over the PA system.

OMG - that is Graham Hoskings' Corsair! And if it was him flying it then this is the second prang he's had recently.

Pilot deliberately veers into tree to avoid motorists on Melbourne freeway - 9news.com.au

He was also with Guido Zuccoli back in 1997 when Guido's newly restored T6 Harvard crashed soon after takeoff at Tindal. Guido was killed, & Graham injured.

DF.

Oh well. That's only three out of nine lives.

Not sure if it was even him that was flying it, but if it was then yes he's leading a charmed life!

DF.

Corsairs don't have a hand pump to lower the gear? Guess irrelevant if no hydraulic fluid in system (leak)...

they gave way on landing or was a set wheels up?

Corsair I to IV, guess be the same.

Undercarriage emergency operation

(i) If the undercarriage fails to lower, see that handpump check valve is set to FLIGHT. Set undercarriage control lever to DOWN and operate handpump. About 70 strokes will be required to open the doors during which no resistance will be felt. It then requires another 100 strokes to extend the main undercarriage gear during which time pressure will be felt. This operation takes 3 to 5 minutes.

(ii) If it is clear that the undercarriage will not lower due to complete failure of the hydraulic system, it may be lowered by operation of a CO2 system, and the tailwheel by a spring system.

(a) Close throttle and reduce speed to 110 knots.
(b) Move undercarriage control to DOWN.
(c) Pull emergency undercarriage release handle (left hand side of cockpit). This relieves hydraulic pressure on the down side of the jacks and also operates the CO2 valve.

Note,-On aircraft No. JT.270 and subsequent, the emergency undercarriage release handle is deleted and the CO2 bottle valve (aft bottle) must be opened.

(d) Reduce speed to about 90 knots I,A.S, (Take great care not to stall whilst undercarriage is extending.)
(e) Check indicators to see that undercarriage and tailwheel are down.
Note.-The introduction of CO2 into the hydraulic system precludes the subsequent use of hydraulic power. lf hydraulic pressure is shown on the gauge and the undercarriage will not lower by engine pump or handpump it would indicate mechanical damage, ln this case the CO, system should not be used and a belly landing should be made as it will not be possible to raise the undercarriage again if it does not lock down.

What a shame http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/boohoo.gif. Was one of my absolute favourites. Saw it getting put through its paces at Tyabb & also Temora. Hopefully they can get it back in the air sooner rather than later.


Interesting info there megan, thanks for that. Guess the actual cause will come out eventually (or not).

Hosking was not flying, and the pilot forgot to lower the gear.

Are you absolutely sure of that, theozguru?

So someone gets to fly someone else's irreplaceable pride and joy. That person doesn't carry out pre landing checks nor PUFF checks on short finals.

I find that rather difficult to believe.

and he landed in the dirt. Having a bad day eh?

I find it hard to believe too.

DF.

True story..

Admin, maybe change the title given this incident did not occur at Temora?

I've heard similar from a source I trust.

No one is infallible.

So who was the pilot?

I'm pretty sure it was the guy in the cockpit. And his name doesn't need to be published here.