REFLECTOR: Gear down to land.

Tom Martino tmartino at troubleshooter.com
Sun Aug 26 10:05:33 CDT 2007


Why do many of you ignore the real possibility (as evidenced in past gear
down landings) that the gear can also ³dig in² and not shear off ...and
cause the plane to spin or cart wheel or flip ... Or suddenly stop.  The
results can be deadly.

Tom


On 8/26/07 8:54 AM, "Terry Miles" <terrence_miles at hotmail.com> wrote:

> I concur with Dave¹s thoughts on this.  This forum is a good information
> trading vehicle.  I soloed in 1967.  Since 1968 I flew full time for a living,
> less a 3 year furlough.  I have never heard anyone suggest gear up landings.
> Since most of us are used to a final descent to touch down w/ the ability to
> add power, losing that ability will get you slow unless you are exceptional
> skilled.  There will be an intuitive tendency not to continue descent if the
> view out the front window is not friendly.  That¹s why you often read of
> people stall out or spin in on engine-out landings which might otherwise have
> been less damaging to spinal cord or head injury.  The gear legs will absorb
> down vector and forward vector energy.  And if they shred and take out the
> whole gear box structure, be thankful.  That is not to negate some of what Tom
> is suggesting.  tip:  Given the change to land in a corn field with 6 foot
> tall plants or in a bean field with 2 foot tall plants, which would you choose
> and why.
> The August issue of AOPA carries a very good article about preparing yourself
> for post lift-off engine failure.
> Terry
> 
> 
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf
> Of David Bertram
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 3:45 PM
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: INCIDENT PHOTO
>  
>  
>    I am glad things worked out for you.  However two years ago I had an engine
> failure and landed in a plowed field that was rutted and rough.  I put my gear
> down and the only thing damaged was my gear doors.  I have been flying since
> 1960 and have always been taught to get all the gear down you can except when
> ditching.  The gear will absorb some of the impact.
>   Dave Bertram 
>   N350TX 
>     
>   -------Original Message-------
>     
>    From: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>   Date: 08/25/07 13:11:08
>   To: Velocity List <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>   Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: INCIDENT PHOTO
>  
>     
>   I think my recommendation for ALL is NEVER lower the gear in an off-airport
>   landing unless you have a very smooth surface.  I think the thing that kills
>   people is sudden stoppage from snagging the gear (especially the nose or
>   various combinations of gear legs collapsing causing an uneven situation
>   where the plane cart wheels or spins or breaks apart.
>     
>   I am now convinced that the Velocity fuselage can withstand almost any
>   impact and slide-out ... If the plane is kept flying straight ahead with a
>   constant bleed-off of speed until settling in.  I realize you have to have
>   terrain that will cooperate.
>     
>   Tom 
>     
>   On 8/24/07 9:17 PM, "mmerskey at sbcglobal.net" <mmerskey at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>     
>>   > Tom: 
>>   >  
>>   > If you had a spam can the results would have been tragic.
>>   >  
>>   > I have a replacement prop for you. Call or write me
>>   >  
>>   > Milt 
>>   >  
>>   > 214 845 1699      miltonm at airmail.net
>>   >  
>>   > -----Original Message-----
>>   > From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>>   > Behalf Of Alex Balic
>>   > Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 12:00 PM
>>   > To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>>   > Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: INCIDENT PHOTO
>>   >  
>>   >  
>>   > Looks great even sitting there like that Tom...........
>>   >  
>>   > -----Original Message-----
>>   > From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>>   > Behalf Of Tom Martino
>>   > Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 11:01 AM
>>   > To: Velocity List
>>   > Subject: REFLECTOR: INCIDENT PHOTO
>>   >  
>>   > OK ... Here it is.  Hope the attachment goes through.
>>   >  
>>   > Tom 
>>   >  
>>   >  
>>   >  
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