DC3 One Engine into Manchester

[scifi]

Just been watching a live web feed from Manchester Airport, where a BBMF DC3 made a One Engine Emergency landing on 23L
It tried to taxi but was unable to stop going around in circles, so they parked it up on the end of 23L. Some of the passengers were wearing parachutes, and the side door had been removed for a display (at Barton..?) Not too sure how long Manchester will be single runway Ops, as the live feed has ended.
.

[Air Swimmer]

Unfortunately there is no tiller for this old beast. Impractical to taxi with a single engine. it is good to see those airplanes still flying though.

[chevvron]

Wonder if it was the port engine.
This was damaged before the aircraft was 'stolen' from Farnborough by BBMF; the undercarriage indicated 'unsafe' when the aircraft was lined up for takeoff so the crew started to shut down and evacuate but the port prop was still turning when the port main gear leg collapsed, allowing the prop to strike the runway while still turning. Must have shock loaded the engine as the prop broke off at the reduction gear and bounced up, hitting the fuselage smack in the middle of the forward escape hatch!
I didn't witness the incident but as I was rostered as afternoon tower controller, I naturally had to go and 'inspect the runway' to see what damage had been caused to it

[treadigraph]

As it happens, it was the port engine!

[scifi]

Port, that's Left isn't it. Yes that was the engine that was shut down. The plane made several left hand ground loops at the end of 23L before realising that the braking wheel was in-line with the engine's thrust line.
'Airliners Live' have taken the recording of the incident off-line, most likely whilst they sort out any copyright matters.
Maybe the Notams will indicate if they are still single runway Ops.
… edit... No mention in the Notams..

[Pilot DAR]

That pilot made a beautiful landing? He had an unfavourable crosswind, and controlled the plane well. He had the tailwheel locked, so though it could not be used to steer, it would mostly control direction during rollout.

[Air Swimmer]

DC3 + Left cross wind + Left engine shutdown + Right wheel not on the ground = extremely difficult directional control

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by Pilot DAR

That pilot made a beautiful landing? He had an unfavourable crosswind, and controlled the plane well. He had the tailwheel locked, so though it could not be used to steer, it would mostly control direction during rollout.

Don't forget one of the reasons BBMF have the Dakota is to train pilots how to fly the Lancaster without using up its precious airframe and engine hours so they have to be good.

[TowerDog]

Originally Posted by Pilot DAR

That pilot made a beautiful landing? He had an unfavourable crosswind, and controlled the plane well. He had the tailwheel locked, so though it could not be used to steer, it would mostly control direction during rollout.

The DC-3 rudder is quite big and can be used successfully down to very taxi slow speeds. The tail wheel is un-locked for sharp turns only using wheel brakes and differential power.
The tail wheel is not used to steer as it has no steering or control, just “free wheeling”.

[Pilot DAR]

The tail wheel is un-locked for sharp turns only using wheel brakes and differential power.
The tail wheel is not used to steer as it has no steering or control, just “free wheeling”.

Yes, the tailwheel must be unlocked for any turns, other than directional control on the runway at speed. Thus, it's important that upon landing, you have the airplane aligned with the runway as the tail comes down, or you may find yourself headed off the runway, with little ability to realign the plane to the runway. There are many airplanes which do not have ground steering, and use braking and sometimes differential power to steer, and they all seem to manage quite well. The DC-3's I have flown also have reverse, as they are turbine powered. This does little to help with steering, though makes stopping on the runway easier, as the brakes of a DC-3 are a little sensitive, where reverse is a bit more intuitive, and may also be used differentially during the roll out. My first taildragger training not only did not have tailwheel steering, but did not have a tailwheel at all, it was a Tiger Moth with a wooden skid, and Moth's don't have true differential braking either. Maintain directional control with the rudder, and it works just fine. The DC-3 rudder is large, and aerodynamically very balanced. It is a little alarming in flight attempting large sideslip angles, as the pedal forces tend to lighten a little with very high rudder deflection. But, as any well designed taildragger, the rudder is very effective to a slow speed on the runway, and works just fine - if you use it!

[Piper.Classique]

I'd let that pilot fly my aeroplane any day they want. Quite a brisk crosswind and the wrong engine out for the crosswind direction. All in one piece and still on the runway. Who cares if it can't be taxied, that's why airports have tugs.

[TheOddOne]

that's why airports have tugs.

...but I bet they didn't have a DC3 bar at MAN! A prudent operator would carry one but probably not enough room in the DC3. At LGW, they have a magic device called an Ash Cart, readily adaptable for a number of different scenarios like this. Was used for rescuing many a stricken smaller aircraft from the runway. In this case, slide it under the tailwheel and away you go, backwards.

TOO

[Maoraigh1]

" it was a Tiger Moth with a wooden skid, and Moth's don't have true differential braking either"
UK Tiger's don't have brakes, in my limited experience. I learned on the Jackeroo conversion. The skid was metal, and steerable.

[Pilot DAR]

UK Tiger's don't have brakes

I did not know that! Both of the Canadian built Tiger Moths I have flown had a hand operated brake, which would slightly alter braking differential if rudder was applied. I found it ineffective, and did not use the brakes much. The first Tiger Moth I flew spent the winter on skis - then, no brakes!

The brakes on the DC-3 I flew were touchy. During my type training, the training pilot warned me, "they come on late, and they come on hard". Thus, as I had reverse available, I really did not use the brakes much in the DC-3 either.

[TowerDog]

Thus, as I had reverse available, I really did not use the brakes much in the DC-3 either.

Reverse on a DC-3, a luxury, never been there, done that.

Grabby brakes for sure, landed on the beaches in Alaska and tried to
touch the brakes slightly to slow down, but the wheels dug in and the tail came
up really fast. Did full stall landings next time on the beaches, no brakes needed,
let the Dakota shake and protest seconds before you hit the sand, short landings every time.
(Fish haul on sandbars and beaches, no pax, no FAR 121 or 135 regulations, almost legal.)