TMetzinger
Final Approach
I'm posting this scenario to provoke some thought on how to handle a situation. I'd appreciate it if the comments relate to the questions I ask, and don't take me to task on how improbable or impossible the scenario may be.
The scenario:
Flying along in a single engine airplane, on autopilot, you disengage the autopilot and find that you can't roll the airplane. Reengaging/disengaging the autopilot, pulling the breakers, etc... no difference. Your ailerons are pretty much locked, fortunately in the neutral position. Pitch and yaw control is fine, and you check and see that the ailerons are still locked even at different pitch settings. You have loved ones in the airplane.
Your initial steps:
You contact ATC, declare an emergency, and head for the nearest air carrier airport. You can make gentle turns with rudder, and pick up a wing with rudder as neccesary, so flying the airplane is a pain but doable. You tell ATC you want a long, straight in approach to the runway most into the wind, and you tell them you want the trucks rolled and waiting. You get vectored and are now on a 3 mile final, runway in sight. You remember that you're going to unlatch the doors on short final.
The question(s) for discussion:
How are you going to configure the airplane for landing, and why?
As I see it, you've got two choices. Configuring for minimum airspeed reduces the energy that needs to be dissipated and increases survivability in the event you lose control after touchdown. Keeping the airplane clean and landing faster will make the rudder more effective and increase the controllability of the airplane. Runway length isn't an issue, you've got 9000+ feet. Keeping the airplane pretty isn't a concern either - it belongs to the insurance company.
So, what say you?
Special bonus discussion - if a full airframe recovery parachute was available to you - would you activate it?
The scenario:
Flying along in a single engine airplane, on autopilot, you disengage the autopilot and find that you can't roll the airplane. Reengaging/disengaging the autopilot, pulling the breakers, etc... no difference. Your ailerons are pretty much locked, fortunately in the neutral position. Pitch and yaw control is fine, and you check and see that the ailerons are still locked even at different pitch settings. You have loved ones in the airplane.
Your initial steps:
You contact ATC, declare an emergency, and head for the nearest air carrier airport. You can make gentle turns with rudder, and pick up a wing with rudder as neccesary, so flying the airplane is a pain but doable. You tell ATC you want a long, straight in approach to the runway most into the wind, and you tell them you want the trucks rolled and waiting. You get vectored and are now on a 3 mile final, runway in sight. You remember that you're going to unlatch the doors on short final.
The question(s) for discussion:
How are you going to configure the airplane for landing, and why?
As I see it, you've got two choices. Configuring for minimum airspeed reduces the energy that needs to be dissipated and increases survivability in the event you lose control after touchdown. Keeping the airplane clean and landing faster will make the rudder more effective and increase the controllability of the airplane. Runway length isn't an issue, you've got 9000+ feet. Keeping the airplane pretty isn't a concern either - it belongs to the insurance company.
So, what say you?
Special bonus discussion - if a full airframe recovery parachute was available to you - would you activate it?