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martin(at)buzzardaviation
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 Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject: SO close to disaster today! |
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Hi gang,
Took the 18T to an air show at Branscombe today. 850m grass strip, no problem until after parking including a long taxi in a strong crosswind and a 180 degree turn to park beside the two P51's and a sole surviving Hurricane. I run up to 60% for 15 secs and I notice the air pressure is down to 2 1/2 Bar. I always check the pressure downwind (was okay as I recall) and hope I did on final after lowering flap (I normally do) but...... to be honest, can't be sure about that. Big crowd watching my landing........... :-[
We have just had an annual done in Hungary and for the previous three months have left the U/C in neutral on parking to isolate the leak which has worked. On the 9 hour trip back from Hungary we have had no problems despite the last minute fix to the nose gear actuating pressure lines. We had a 10-15 second retraction time, replaced the air line, then okay and within 5 seconds.
Assuming (Ah Ha - that old GOTCHA) that this is a re-occurrence of that problem I move I U/C lever to neutral and lose another 1/2 bar as I do so. No problem. I have a small cylinder for re-charge in the back. 5 hours later switch on air. Still 2 Bar. Recharge from cylinder to five. Starts on second blade. Move gear to normal and lose 2 1/2 Bar immediately back to 2 1/2. Engine running fine.....
Decide to go home and see if pressure builds in flight. It doesn't. Alert 15 year old son in right seat to emergency gear possibility and lower gear 10 miles out at 170kph to be sure. Full lock and three greens. Now reading 2 Bar.
Storm clouds ahead but can move between gaps for my 650m home base easily. Overfly strip and see wind sock limp between showers and elect for uphill (5%) on 08. Touch down normal, one application of bakes then nothing. Gust knocks us slightly sideways and aircraft continues on 08 trajectory despite 30% drift on greasy top soil after no rain for 10 weeks and sudden shower. Try brakes, nothing, now seriously sideways and hedge approaching.... Reach across to P2 yoke and hit that brake. Nothing!!!! Shit leaps to mind!!!!
Still doing 50+kph. Look at son and tell him we're going though the fence now less than 100 yards away and to hang on. No steering, no brakes, no hope...
As we slowly slide though through 60% to direction of travel and I expect the gear to collapse, my old motor bike racing instincts awake. 50 yards from the fence I kick in full left rudder and give it max power. Yippee. a 90 degree turn and reverse thrust. Power off. We settle 20 - 30 yards from the fence. Disaster averted. Only worked once or twice on a motocross bike but I was always told "at least you get a second chance". It's true!
Eaglescott radio then inform I am a Lucky B******
Run up at 50% for 2 minutes (pointing slightly up hill sand in LONG grass) and minimal brakes return as I get back to 2 Bar. Taxi "VERY SLOWLY" to parking spot, shut down. Put gear to neutral. Pressure in main tank drops to 1/2 Bar! Nothing from snot valve.
Hindsight is wonderful. I passed a perfectly useable 2000m hard runway (Exeter) and should have gone back there. NO question. I knew I had a problem and I screwed up. Go for runway length and services. NOT where your car is parked X;{
Any other thoughts on the situation, my behavior or the problem?
One thing is for sure. When I go out tomorrow, I fully expect the landing gear problem to be an unsecured and un safety wired replaced line to the nose gear in Hungary. I hope not but it IS what I expect. So clearly I have no faith in the HA guys. If we can't get good maintenance on these 18T's in the UK we are in serious trouble! Will let you know what I find but it might be handy to know what you all think I should look for too.
PS. Mark, Richard and Rob. Will be calling you all in the morning for pointers obviously. Thank GOD it didn't happen at Branscombe! I could easily have slid into £3+m worth of WWII history!
BTW. The Mustang display was killer. However, the Hurricane display proved it could clearly out turn them and would have had the best shot.
Just added this in order to be suitably controversial for this highly esteemed and US dominated list  Pictures available for anyone who wants them or can post them.
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dsavarese(at)elmore.rr.co
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:29 am Post subject: SO close to disaster today! |
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My bet is you may have corrosion or garbage internally in the landing gear handle/valve. Question - Why do you put the gear handle in neutral versus leaving it in the down position when the aircraft is on the ground? You may also have a leaking landing gear actuator. Does the air pressure continue to decrease after the gear is down and locked or when you turn on the main air supply valve do you continue to hear a hiss coming from the gear handle/valve?
Glad you and your airplane are safe and sound though.
Dennis
[quote] ---
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martin(at)buzzardaviation
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:28 am Post subject: SO close to disaster today! |
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At 13:08 31/07/2006, you wrote:
| Quote: | My bet is you may have corrosion or garbage internally in the landing gear handle/valve.
Question - Why do you put the gear handle in neutral versus leaving it in the down position when the aircraft is on the ground? |
We just did this temporarily to isolate a leak before the annual and a permanent fix. It worked in the short term.
| Quote: | | You may also have a leaking landing gear actuator. Does the air pressure continue to decrease after the gear is down and locked or when you turn on the main air supply valve do you continue to hear a hiss coming from the gear handle/valve? |
Neither
| Quote: | | Glad you and your airplane are safe and sound though. |
Me too!! Went out this morning and recharged the system to 5 Bar after looking for obvious loose connections etc. Thankfully? none evident and my thought about the nose gear pipe was wrong!. After 15 minutes taxying and 60% engine run we had lost air down to 3.5 Bar. Clearly a leak somewhere. Measured the skid marks on the strip. Right main gear was just 20' from the fence so a pretty close call. Whew!
Will fly it up to London on Wednesday gear down for a full test on jacks.
One correction to my initial e-mail. I had misread the manual and thought the emergency air only operated the gear. I now understand that it does also operate brakes so I SHOULD have used it. We never stop learning :-[
Happy Landings
____|____
\O/
o'o Martin Robinson
Auster AOP 9 G-BKVK (WZ662)
Yak 18T HA-YAV
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