Edge 540 Lands Out on Long Island, NY

[DJTorrente]

Pilot makes emergency landing at popular Long Island park

The small aircraft was spotted Wednesday morning at a parking lot at Robert Moses State Park.

www.nbcnewyork.com

Interesting pilot. Not only does he have personal experience with forced landings, the news channel got an interview with him for this story, and found his post-landing interview the last time this happened to him.

I get that he's asking more of his plane than most pilots do, but does acrobatics often correspond to higher risk of engine failure?

 

[TommyG]

One of the best pilots around. He does his aerobatics in air shows around the northeast. Knowledgeable as hell. He also landed in a main road a few years back when his prior blade broke.

 

[M20K]

I get that he's asking more of his plane than most pilots do, but does acrobatics often correspond to higher risk of engine failure?

I don't think he has a blog, so we may never hear what he finds. But my guess is that the issue has to do with the new engine, or possibly the installation (e.g. something came loose), more than the aerobatics.

But really hard to say without talking to him or his mechanic.

 

[Ed Haywood]

does acrobatics often correspond to higher risk of engine failure?

Some internal failure modes are exacerbated by high gyroscopic forces. Engines subject to frequent and vigorous aerobatics usually do not make TBO. Some big name airshow guys rebuild their engines every year.

This was apparently a "new" engine, though the story does not clarify whether the pilot meant new new or just SMOH. Either way, I would bet installation or maintenance issue, not caused by acro.

 

[midwestpa24]

"There was a large response from State Police. No word on if any arrests were made."

Hey, you can't park there!