Rex Hefferan
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 147
Location: Olney Springs, Colorado USA "NOT a Kitpig"
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 Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: Why some fying should be boring WAS: sadly a kitfox is down |
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I once practiced some simulated attempts at returning to the airfield
(at a safe altitude) in a C150 Aerobat after I had completed my
acrobatic flight check out. I felt it might be doable if you did
everything exactly right and had at least 300 feet AGL when the
emergency occurred. The field must also not have any trees near your
approach. This means you must be very alert and practiced at the skills
needed plus you would need to execute the turn immediately at the first
sign of engine out. Not a likely situation for most of us to react in
such way when surprised. I AM NOT that skilled anymore, not by a long
shot. I DO NOT recommend trying it in a real emergency. I do believe it
was good practice if only to impress and confirm myself of the risk such
a maneuver entails.
I agree with Michel and the German safety officer. Glide the aircraft
to the safest landing choice that is not directly behind you. Practice
emergency procedures regularly and with the seriousness that it could
really happen to you someday. When the practice becomes boring to you
then maybe you've got the skills to save your life. Keep the emergency
practice boring and remember why it's good that it's boring.
Rex
Colorado
Michel Verheughe wrote:
| Quote: |
On Oct 15, 2006, at 4:22 PM, john perry wrote:
> Just read on the ntsb that a kitfox 4 1200 went down on friday N134U
> two peope were on board and did not make it .
> pilot was having fuel problems it says
Yes, I learnt about the fatal accident Thursday , as I have "Kitfox"
as a keyword in Google Alert. But your new link seem to shed more
light on the accident, John. I looks like the two pilots did what we
should avoid; try to save the plane by turning back to the runway, and
stalled in the turn, entering a spin.
May this be a lesson to all of us, once an emergency arises, our
beloved planes are merely an expendable cushion between us and mother
earth. I don't know how I would react if this happened to me but, from
all I read, I believe the best way to safe my, and my eventual
passenger's life, is to land almost anywhere but straight ahead.
When I was in Germany, one month ago, for the PocketFMS fly-in, we
assisted a safety conference held by a German aviation safety officer.
In one example, he took a real airfield and demonstrated what were the
alternatives in the event of an engine stop under initial climb. His
opinion was that, for our small aircraft, it was even better to land
on tree tops, than making the possibly fatal 180 turn.
Our thoughts are, of course, with the family of the victims. May God
bless them and relief their pain.
Cheers,
Michel
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_________________
Rex
N740GP - M2/582
Colorado |
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