Hiperbiper
Line Up and Wait
The pilot of a straight-tailed Bo belly landed at DTN last evening after the landing gear could not be extended. The plane circled for 30 minutes or so while our local A&P's (our Phillip is a BO expert) went over all the different things to try but to no avail.
The pilot was as calm as could be...answering the normal cheer-me-up's; Souls on Board, fuel state and intentions quite matter of factly! After a last fly-by that confirmed the wheels and doors were still in the fully retracted position he said:" OK, I'm going around once more then I'll line up and come on in". And so he did.
Though you can't see it that well in the video he came in nose high and rode the flaps for 50 feet before settling down on the A/C condenser
and the nosewheel doors...simply the softest landing you could imagine! Total ground scar was about 200 feet. IMPO Damned fine Piloting!
Everyone on the airport turned out to help, the A&P School instructors, Tower guys and a couple of Ramp Rats (as well as our fine Fire Dept.)...the plane was swung by straps under a BIG Cherry Picker under the watchful eye of the pilot and taken to a hanger (on the other end of the damned 5000 foot runway BTW
) and put on jackstands without further damage. All in all a good outcome to a crappy situation!
Damage to the plane was not as much as it would have been with a lesser pilot...cowling, gear doors, A/C condenser and flaps. A few antennas are a bit shorter and the exhaust pipes have a stylish new rake to 'em. Add a new prop and engine and they're good to go again...(and the gear...fix the stupid gear...).
This is our second gear up on 14/32 in 3 weeks. Just before Christmas a Mooney landed sans wheels.
If this guy isn't an Instructor he needs to be...
Damn it was a pretty landing...(as it were)
Chris in SHV
`http://www.ksla.com/global/Category.asp?c=194397&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5439052
The pilot was as calm as could be...answering the normal cheer-me-up's; Souls on Board, fuel state and intentions quite matter of factly! After a last fly-by that confirmed the wheels and doors were still in the fully retracted position he said:" OK, I'm going around once more then I'll line up and come on in". And so he did.
Though you can't see it that well in the video he came in nose high and rode the flaps for 50 feet before settling down on the A/C condenser
and the nosewheel doors...simply the softest landing you could imagine! Total ground scar was about 200 feet. IMPO Damned fine Piloting!Everyone on the airport turned out to help, the A&P School instructors, Tower guys and a couple of Ramp Rats (as well as our fine Fire Dept.)...the plane was swung by straps under a BIG Cherry Picker under the watchful eye of the pilot and taken to a hanger (on the other end of the damned 5000 foot runway BTW
) and put on jackstands without further damage. All in all a good outcome to a crappy situation!Damage to the plane was not as much as it would have been with a lesser pilot...cowling, gear doors, A/C condenser and flaps. A few antennas are a bit shorter and the exhaust pipes have a stylish new rake to 'em. Add a new prop and engine and they're good to go again...(and the gear...fix the stupid gear...).
This is our second gear up on 14/32 in 3 weeks. Just before Christmas a Mooney landed sans wheels.
If this guy isn't an Instructor he needs to be...
Damn it was a pretty landing...(as it were)
Chris in SHV
`http://www.ksla.com/global/Category.asp?c=194397&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5439052
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