scary moments........
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scary moments........
Did my qxc on Saturday, managed to fly 3 hrs 'perfectly', only to nearly crash on landing at my home field
Not sure what the f**k I was doing, but somehow went from a stable approach down the centreline (no wind to speak of), to right wing down, left drift, off the runway, skimming sideways just above the grass, heading for various airfield fixtures and fittings, realised I was holding the yoke full back, and had a brief thought..."how the hell will I explain this to the school"!!!!
Luckily I didn't panic, managed to get full power, flaps to 10', and performed a (extremely) short field take off !!.
Had to do two touch & go's to calm myself before finally landing and taxing back.
Any of you guys have any similar tales, in the "I learned about flying from that" vein??
Not sure what the f**k I was doing, but somehow went from a stable approach down the centreline (no wind to speak of), to right wing down, left drift, off the runway, skimming sideways just above the grass, heading for various airfield fixtures and fittings, realised I was holding the yoke full back, and had a brief thought..."how the hell will I explain this to the school"!!!!
Luckily I didn't panic, managed to get full power, flaps to 10', and performed a (extremely) short field take off !!.
Had to do two touch & go's to calm myself before finally landing and taxing back.
Any of you guys have any similar tales, in the "I learned about flying from that" vein??
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Yup:
Thats how we all learn.
The main thing is you did something that worked, you went around.
Good job.
Cat Driver:
......................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Thats how we all learn.
The main thing is you did something that worked, you went around.
Good job.
Cat Driver:
......................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
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Didn't have a particularly scary moment, but I did bu*ger up the overhead join when I arrived back home after my QXC - eventually managed a very unothodox entry into the circuit. I guess it's just the relief of finding yourself back home.
Still, congratulations on making it round. When's the dreaded test...?
Still, congratulations on making it round. When's the dreaded test...?
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My instructor taught me treat every approach as a 'Go Around', too many smack up the aircraft by trying to make the runway no matter what.
Bloody good advice! And well done for getting out of it.
Bloody good advice! And well done for getting out of it.
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Julian
The thought crossed my mind as it all started going pear shaped......."I don't HAVE to land"!!!
Evo
Maybe Sat 12th, still have Tech & FPP exams to do.
Can't wait
The thought crossed my mind as it all started going pear shaped......."I don't HAVE to land"!!!
Evo
Maybe Sat 12th, still have Tech & FPP exams to do.
Can't wait
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Sexybeets -
I can think of several things, among them an interesting downwind leg in a glider when I got distracted and suddenly thought ****! I'd better turn base, ****! I'll never make the field - but I had a habit of cramping my circuits and I actually made a dream landing.
Another occasion, early solo in a Warrior, asked to expedite vacating the runway and put my feet over the top of the brakes when I wanted to slow down, so vacated the runway on two wheels! Evacuated the runway and self simultaneously.
Doing a touch and go I dumped all the flap rather than just the drag and had a bad moment or two as I debated whether to stop or go.
But I have learnt from these, (I hope!) thus filling my bucket of experience while emptying my bag of luck.
SD
I can think of several things, among them an interesting downwind leg in a glider when I got distracted and suddenly thought ****! I'd better turn base, ****! I'll never make the field - but I had a habit of cramping my circuits and I actually made a dream landing.
Another occasion, early solo in a Warrior, asked to expedite vacating the runway and put my feet over the top of the brakes when I wanted to slow down, so vacated the runway on two wheels! Evacuated the runway and self simultaneously.
Doing a touch and go I dumped all the flap rather than just the drag and had a bad moment or two as I debated whether to stop or go.
But I have learnt from these, (I hope!) thus filling my bucket of experience while emptying my bag of luck.
SD
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My most scary moment was back in 1990 when I was doing my PPL at Dallas.....I was solo, practicing in the local area. Nearby Carswell Air Force Base was landing numberous B52......I was pottering about underneath this arriving aluminium overcast, (Never seen such dirty engines!!! smoke everywhere) when the seat securing pin decided to disengage itself. Needless to say Seat flew backwards, together with a hapless Skyyacht, and Cessna also flew - but upwards in an astonishingly high nose up attitude.....my feet were unable to reach the rudder and the stall warning was bleating at me......I managed to push the yoke forwards, and regained some semblance of order, and sorted out the seat.....Not THAT was ****ing scary.... I trembled my way back to Meacham field, and took the rest of the afternoon off for a few Buds.....Since then I ALWAYS check that the pin is fully engaged before I shut the door!
Ble skies.
Ble skies.
Grandpa Aerotart
I learned about flying from that stories?
Well there was the time I almost spun into the ground with a student,
or
the time I was taking off in a C185 in he PNG highlands and the seat flew backwards,
or
Have you ever been in cloud in a zoom climb with trees flicking past the wheels...I have
or
Landing at a mountain one way strip when I saw a rock fall from the end of the windsock...and it was way to late to do a missed approach
or
Got low and slow while dropping posters for an election in the PNG Highlands with a tree covered ridgeline in front of me
or
The time I got caught in a mountain valley in an Islander with weather closing in all around while flying 10000' below AMA
or
several engine failures..actually about 5
But that's life...and what experience is all about
Gotta maintain a sense of humour about these things ya know.
Chuckles.
Well there was the time I almost spun into the ground with a student
,or
the time I was taking off in a C185 in he PNG highlands and the seat flew backwards
,or
Have you ever been in cloud in a zoom climb with trees flicking past the wheels...I have
or
Landing at a mountain one way strip when I saw a rock fall from the end of the windsock...and it was way to late to do a missed approach
or
Got low and slow while dropping posters for an election in the PNG Highlands with a tree covered ridgeline in front of me
or
The time I got caught in a mountain valley in an Islander with weather closing in all around while flying 10000' below AMA
or
several engine failures..actually about 5
But that's life...and what experience is all about
Gotta maintain a sense of humour about these things ya know.
Chuckles.
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Along the lines of Chimbu Chuckles (names / locations changed to identify the innocent and lay blame at their door, in the way of all good project managers!!! 
):
During last solo hour B4 PPL, had inadvertent spin in C152 whilst trying to 'explore the envelope' Had luckily had full spin training during Canadian portion of PPL training.
During take off from EGHA in C172, seat slid to the rear stop after rotating just as we hit a bump. Had luckily been warned that Cessna's do this for a hobby and discussed scenario / what if with fellow PPL in Canada; we'd both agreed that extending arms at same rate seat is sliding back is best option. [This was around a month after a C172 had spun in at EGHA with 3 fatalities - AAIB report stated seat unlocked as primary cause].
During take off from EGHA in C172 (honest, it's not a bogey airfield for me ), radio knob came off and fell into rear of cockpit. Not too critical, but was unfortunately 100kHz frequency change and was needed to dial in EGHH Approach frequency!!
During take off from EGTU in PA28 (you'll be thinking that I have a take off problem!), had port aileron applied to counteract strong, gusty crosswind. Just as I was rotating, there was a gust from 180 deg to main wind direction, causing wing to lift, assisted by the aileron I had applied! Safest way to avoid a 'flip over' was to dump the nose wheel back on the deck.
):During last solo hour B4 PPL, had inadvertent spin in C152 whilst trying to 'explore the envelope'
Had luckily had full spin training during Canadian portion of PPL training.During take off from EGHA in C172, seat slid to the rear stop after rotating just as we hit a bump. Had luckily been warned that Cessna's do this for a hobby and discussed scenario / what if with fellow PPL in Canada; we'd both agreed that extending arms at same rate seat is sliding back is best option. [This was around a month after a C172 had spun in at EGHA with 3 fatalities - AAIB report stated seat unlocked as primary cause].
During take off from EGHA in C172 (honest, it's not a bogey airfield for me
), radio knob came off and fell into rear of cockpit. Not too critical, but was unfortunately 100kHz frequency change and was needed to dial in EGHH Approach frequency!!During take off from EGTU in PA28 (you'll be thinking that I have a take off problem!), had port aileron applied to counteract strong, gusty crosswind. Just as I was rotating, there was a gust from 180 deg to main wind direction, causing wing to lift, assisted by the aileron I had applied! Safest way to avoid a 'flip over' was to dump the nose wheel back on the deck.
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Whilst under instruction for PPL, doing "instrument appreciation", we flew through a small CB in a Cherokee.
I didn't learn much about instrument appreciation, but I learned a lot about CB appreciation
Also, got a lot of beers bought to repeat story for a few weeks!
I didn't learn much about instrument appreciation, but I learned a lot about CB appreciation
Also, got a lot of beers bought to repeat story for a few weeks!
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Scary Moments
Had about 14 hours TT of which 1.5 were solo. Doing circuits with the instructor practising cross wind landings when he decided to get out and for me to do some circuit bashing. Off I went to the holding point to do the pre-flight power checks. Tested the mags etc and off I went. As I got to 500ft the engine began to cough. Absolutely **** myself. Called the tower and told them I was returning to the field. Flew the circuit (don't know how as I was so scared). I was quite surprised to see the fire tender waiting for me on finals. Landing was thankfully uneventful. Instructor was waiting for me in the parking area. The 1st thing he checked when he opened the door was the Mags. Needless to say only one was on. I obviously never moved the switch back to Both when I did the power checks. I felt like a complete to$$er.
What did I learn that day.......Never let your eagerness to fly distract you from doing the checks carefully.
What did I learn that day.......Never let your eagerness to fly distract you from doing the checks carefully.
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Incipient spin training. God - how I hated incipient spins.
It was in a Cessna 152, flaps down, throttle to idle, easing the yoke back to raise the nose towards the stall.
My instructor said 'At the wing drop, pick up the dropped wing using opposite rudder'
The left wing started to drop and quick as a flash smart ole' WHC identified it ands applied right rudder. Full right rudder.
The aircraft rolled vertical, I looked past my instructor at the river below and without thinking applied full left rudder. We rolled back level and there was a stunned silence.
I said 'Too much rudder - right?'. He replied with something like 'Yes, but good correction - lets try that again'
Brilliant guy, my instructor.
It was in a Cessna 152, flaps down, throttle to idle, easing the yoke back to raise the nose towards the stall.
My instructor said 'At the wing drop, pick up the dropped wing using opposite rudder'
The left wing started to drop and quick as a flash smart ole' WHC identified it ands applied right rudder. Full right rudder.
The aircraft rolled vertical, I looked past my instructor at the river below and without thinking applied full left rudder. We rolled back level and there was a stunned silence.
I said 'Too much rudder - right?'. He replied with something like 'Yes, but good correction - lets try that again'
Brilliant guy, my instructor.
sexybeets experience shows that one of the potentially scary moments comes when we return to familiar surroundings after a XC.
With over a 100hrs logged, my similar experience didn't scare me at the time, but it did afterwards when I realise how close I came to breaking an aeroplane.
I had returned from Cardiff to Bournemouth with a friend who was a lapsed PPL. He flew it back and I enjoyed looking at the scenery on a lovely evening, taking over on downwind for the final approach and landing. I set the power and, as I approached the threshold, I was priding myself on not having to make any adjustments until I closed the throttle for the flare.
For some reason, and I have never done it before or since, I flared about 6' too high and didn't even realise it. Fortunately, I was in a PA28 and the low wing provided sufficient ground effect to cushion the impact which, in a C172, would probably have done some damage.
Unfortunately, the CFI was sitting at the holding point and transmitted suitable sound effects over the radio as I fell out of the sky. Something like "Wheeeeeeee!" At least I didn't have to worry about making a heavy landing report and the subsequent check showed I had got away with it.
Ever since then, any untidy landings have been a result of flaring too low
With over a 100hrs logged, my similar experience didn't scare me at the time, but it did afterwards when I realise how close I came to breaking an aeroplane.
I had returned from Cardiff to Bournemouth with a friend who was a lapsed PPL. He flew it back and I enjoyed looking at the scenery on a lovely evening, taking over on downwind for the final approach and landing. I set the power and, as I approached the threshold, I was priding myself on not having to make any adjustments until I closed the throttle for the flare.
For some reason, and I have never done it before or since, I flared about 6' too high and didn't even realise it. Fortunately, I was in a PA28 and the low wing provided sufficient ground effect to cushion the impact which, in a C172, would probably have done some damage.
Unfortunately, the CFI was sitting at the holding point and transmitted suitable sound effects over the radio as I fell out of the sky. Something like "Wheeeeeeee!" At least I didn't have to worry about making a heavy landing report and the subsequent check showed I had got away with it.
Ever since then, any untidy landings have been a result of flaring too low
Last edited by pulse1; 2nd Oct 2002 at 13:32.
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Took girlfreinds' Dad for local vfr in C152. First trip for him. Cloudbase low, skinning it I showed him a few handling exercises, noticed cloud was getting low, started to route back to airfield. 'Isnt it getting a bit dim?' he asks as the only thing I can now see is the ground up to maybe 1km in front of me. Now starting to feel the panic I start to use the AI and DI to get me home - wind up over some hills c/w own bloody wind farm (wind pushed me north) and out I pop over the lough, field in sight. Normally deserted field, suddenly I'm 5 to land...on the apron I can see the hills now COMPLETELY obscured by cloud. Took me a while to get over that. Have now designated IMC rating as Next Thing I'm Doing!
Compton Abbas. Thrid attempt to get there in a year or so, weather better this time.
40 degree crosswind, go-around off first approach, very bumpy, ran out of aileron in the flare. Taxied in the strong wind up to near the restaurant where I parked.
Watched a C152 with 2 on board take off across the runway at a slant from where he was parked, thought "That's a good plan - I'll do that." Except I was in a Robin with 3 up. I did it, but was willing the a/c into the air when we crossed the far side of the runway at a hell of an angle and still weren't airborne . . .
Made it, thought about it, still shudder. Took up helicopters as that seemed the easiest way to avoid using runways . . .
40 degree crosswind, go-around off first approach, very bumpy, ran out of aileron in the flare. Taxied in the strong wind up to near the restaurant where I parked.
Watched a C152 with 2 on board take off across the runway at a slant from where he was parked, thought "That's a good plan - I'll do that." Except I was in a Robin with 3 up. I did it, but was willing the a/c into the air when we crossed the far side of the runway at a hell of an angle and still weren't airborne . . .
Made it, thought about it, still shudder. Took up helicopters as that seemed the easiest way to avoid using runways . . .
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On completion on my qualifying X county, the wind had changed to a hefty X wind on my return, I landed on the outside of the landing lights, on the nice pink bit, and just nipped between them to vacate the runway without hitting any,sure enough the CFI was at the hold,why are they always in the wrong place at the wrong time?
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Thanks for all the feedback guys/gals, feeling much better now
Feel I should also mention the near miss (in my opinion) I had a week or so previously.
Poodling along at 6000ft or so, both myself and instructor looking out to the left to confirm I had correctly spotted a landmark for a position fix. I proceed to right a little note on my route plan......."Whoaa!! MY CONTROLS" announces my normally calm & collected Dutch FI. As I turn to the right on hearing this a twin Commanche or similar slips under our nose at no more than 150ft away, and less than that below, crossing right to left at 90' to our heading. We were in uncontrolled airspace, and after discussing it we were deceided we were probably at the wrong height for our heading. We were in good VMC, but it's possible the twin was flying IFR and was concentrating on his instruments. I certainly pay more attention to the quadranteral rules now, and keep a very good look out.
Feel I should also mention the near miss (in my opinion) I had a week or so previously.
Poodling along at 6000ft or so, both myself and instructor looking out to the left to confirm I had correctly spotted a landmark for a position fix. I proceed to right a little note on my route plan......."Whoaa!! MY CONTROLS" announces my normally calm & collected Dutch FI. As I turn to the right on hearing this a twin Commanche or similar slips under our nose at no more than 150ft away, and less than that below, crossing right to left at 90' to our heading. We were in uncontrolled airspace, and after discussing it we were deceided we were probably at the wrong height for our heading. We were in good VMC, but it's possible the twin was flying IFR and was concentrating on his instruments. I certainly pay more attention to the quadranteral rules now, and keep a very good look out.
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scary moment...?
...pleanty !
......on my QXC when I was gazing out of the window only to see a warbird fly past, head on, same altitude, about 100m to my right....I remember thinking "hope he saw me"
.....not forgetting the time I mistook the mixture for the carb heat and applied carb heat
Happy flying !
EA
......on my QXC when I was gazing out of the window only to see a warbird fly past, head on, same altitude, about 100m to my right....I remember thinking "hope he saw me"
.....not forgetting the time I mistook the mixture for the carb heat and applied carb heat
Happy flying !
EA