REFLECTOR: PROP DAMAGE? ARE YOU KIDDING?

[Kirk Aragon]

My two cents...
 
I put my Velocity (SERG: N360TV) into a cleared field back in January due to an engine failure (cable clamp and safety wire failing on the mixture cable). The field was wet but not recently plowed. I landed perpinducular to the rows as I barely (less than 10 feet from the trees) made it to the clearing. I was able to hold the nose gear off of the field for about 100 yards after the mains were down. Once the nose gear touched, the aircraft continued for about 50 yards. I left furrows that were about 1 inch shy of the axel on the mains.
 
After waiting a month for the FAA to inspect the aircraft, I was able to fly home. I extended and retracted the gear several times on the ground and in the pattern before returning to my home airfield. Now, my local mechanic insists that I change the nose gear strut before he will sign off on the plane (I gave it to him to change the tires). I was intending to change the nose gear strut anyway as I could see that it was slightly bent.
 
My thoughts on gear down or gear up emergency landings are mixed. The altittude and distance from the airfield and the fact that I had lowered my gear prior to the engine failure made the decision for me. The damage to my aircraft was slight, but had I chosen a landing point 30 feet to my right or 10 feet to my left, would have put me in standing water or mud with much more damage to the aircraft.
 
My losses were $500 for the tow out of the field, $500 for the mechanic to inspect and repair the mixture control, and $500 for the new nose gear strut (the local mechanic's bill is not in yet).
 
I'm glad I had the gear down for this landing. In another situation, I might opt for a different configuration.
 
 
Kirk
 
> From: thefalls at athenet.net> To: reflector at tvbf.org> Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:18:51 -0500> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: PROP DAMAGE? ARE YOU KIDDING?> > After reading all the posts, I like the idea of skipping across the terrain> gear up. I'd be more concerned about my butt than damage to the plane. Seems> gear down is the preference ONLY when the ground is firm AND smooth (safe> and minimal damage).> > Speaking of saving our butts . . . Tom can you provide more info and/or pics> of the seat reinforcements?> > Thanks,> Tom F. > > > > -----Original Message-----> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On> Behalf Of Tom Martino> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 7:10 PM> To: Velocity List> Subject: REFLECTOR: PROP DAMAGE? ARE YOU KIDDING?> > To the person who asked about prop damage when landing off field ... (sorry> don't have the original post) ... All I can say is this:> > My plane sustained $6,000 to $8,000 in composite damage ... And that's> letting professionals repair everything. Add to that $15,000 for a prop ...> For a total of $21,000 to $23,000.> > If you landed with the gear down ... The damages would've been way more> severe -- even if you were lucky enough to save the prop -- which is> doubtful. Not to mention the very real possibility of being killed.> > There is no way Velocity Landing gear can handle rugged terrain -- even so> much as going against plow lines. In some rare circumstances you may hear> about people who lowered the gear and made it ... But the damage can be> severe.> > There is nothing to snag the bottom of the V ... And if construct properly> ... It is a land barge that will come to rest without breaking up.> > After this experience ... I would truly consider building in some kind of> skid plate in the event of this kind of landing. Serious!> > The FAA inspector at the incident sight said that this landing probably> would've killed 9 out of 10 people. It is not always the impact that does> it ... But the shock of sudden stops and/or flipping or being jammed into> the instrument panel or thrown from the plane. Thank goodness ... I also> reinforced the seat brackets, pans and hardware. The seats remained> perfectly upright, flexed when needed and never failed. Also ... If I> hadn't removed the overhead console over the front seats ... There could've> have been some head trauma.(I swooped it down on a 45-degree angle behind> the front seats for eyeball vents and a light -- photo attached)> > Tom> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.6/971 - Release Date: 8/24/2007> 2:59 PM> > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.8/973 - Release Date: 8/25/2007> 5:00 PM> > > _______________________________________________> To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector> > Visit the gallery! www.tvbf.org/gallery> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
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