Comanche accident averted last evening

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 23:02:18 -0500, "Highflyer" wrote:


wrote in message
oups.com...
Nothing worse than that sinking feeling just before you hear the
tortured sound of metal on the runway. Then discovering you have to use
full power to taxi......
I've made it a habit to do a "short final Checklist"...levers forward,
gear down and locked. It has saved me from that embarassing sinking
feeling a couple times while distracted on short final.

Checklists are good. Ok, almost a necessity, but there is one thing
they can't do and that is keep you from forgetting to put the gear
down every time. There is such a thing as conditioning. We see what
we expect and react accordingly. When I was getting checked out in
the Deb, the insurance company required 25 hours dual(or I think it
was...been a while). I had been doing air work, lots of take offs
and landings, instrument work, (lots of hood work), emergency
procedures (51 turns to get the gear down) and to crank the gear down
you have to lean back between the seats. You can see the instruments,
but absolutely nothing outside and it takes nearly 3 minutes to crank
that sucker down.

I had been expecting the instructor to pull the breaker, but hours had
gone by with nary a touch. We were coming back in from a good
instrument work out. I entered the pattern and turned down wind. A
touch of flaps to help slow us, then hit the gear switch near the end
of the runway outbound. (GU[green light and nose gear pointer
down]MP) Coming up on base I was having a devil of a time slowing to
90, but with a bit of flaps and work I had 90 on base with 80 on
final. I did a GUMP on base and final as well. I even did a 100 foot
gear check.

As we came over the numbers and I started easing the nose up I was
greeted by a loud, obnoxious (cheap sounding) alarm. My hand
automatically went to the throttle so I could regroup my thoughts at a
more leisurely pace.

I not only had missed the tell tale deceleration which feels like you
put on the brakes when the gear comes down, I had pointed to the green
light for the mains, *identified* it as lit, pointed to the nose gear
indicator and identified it as down *FOUR* times if you count the 100
foot gear check. BTW you are still 30 to 40 feet up when you start
the round out in the Deb.

Even though the green light was not lit I identified it as being so.
Even though the nose gear pointer was up, I looked at it and
identified it as down. I saw what I had been conditioned to expect.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Ol S&B


I remember many years ago we had a Bonanza land. He was going to retract
the flaps on rollout and hit the gear switch instead. Then a bump in the
runway lifted him off the "squat switch" and the gear instantly retracted
putting him on his belly.

Contrary to popular belief this is almost as common in other retracts
as well.

We notified the FAA and they send an inspector down from the GADO ( now
FSDO ). He flew over to our airport in one of the FAA's light twins. And
proceeded to land gear up! We gave him a bad time about having to send
another inspector down to investigate HIS gear up landing! He was a mite
embarassed. :-)

Highflyer
Highflight Aviation Services
Pinckneyville Airport ( PJY )





Pinckneyville Airport ( PJY )

the tower may not have been so concerned about the gear up landing.. and
depending on locations etc... the tower operator may not be able to see the
gear... like looking towards final into a setting sun...

he just did not want his runway closed.... LOL

Good call on the tower operator... I'd bet he has saved more than one runway
closure from a gearless aircraft.

BT


wrote in message
oups.com...
Just another day of flying in the bay area yesterday - or so I thought.
It was past 7:45 pm. Beautiful evening sunset. Winds 330@12. No gusts.
No turbulence. I was on my third touch and go. A Comanche was inbound
and cleared to land on RWY31. I was cleared for the option (number two)
and requested a short approach. On right downwind, Tower instructed me
to do a Left 360 for separation with the Comanche so as to enable my
"short approach" request. After the 360, I re-entered midfield right
downwind and saw the Comanche go past the numbers... just beginning her
flare. At that very moment, Tower in a very calm (yet urgent) tone said
"No gear. Go around. No landing gear Comanche x-x-Yankee. Go around
now!". My eyes were popping out of my sockets as I saw the Comanche
pull away into the air with less than ten feet distance from the
runway. As I pulled my throttle and descended a few seconds later, I
heard the Comanche pilot thank the controller as he flew the pattern...
his voice shaking in disbelief. He said he did everything he usually
does... not sure how or why he missed extending the landing gear. I
don't think he slept well in the night. Thankfully, plane & pilot got
away without harm.

I have a new level of respect for ATC after what happened today. And an
even higher level of respect for Checklists!

- Aman

noflapsatgmail.com wrote in message I have a new level of respect for
ATC after what happened today. And an
even higher level of respect for Checklists!

ATC policy in this region is to notify the FAA FSDO of the incident. They in
turn mail out a form with which to self-incriminate one's self.

D.