Gear up landing

[Francisco]

A C337 landed gear up in Brownsville.

Any Comments?

Francisco

http://www1.faa.gov/avr/aai/F_0804_N.txt

[Bob Cook]

Maybe it should read " The pilot landed gear up"

bob

[Ernie Martin]

My only comment is to note the damage, which is listed as minor. I was under the impression that, absent extraordinary circumstances, the damage is seldom "minor". Chances are good that one or both props hit the ground while turning, so there goes one or two engine and prop overhauls, along with the undercarriage damage. Well, maybe the FAA's definition of minor is based on how much torn metal you can see, as opposed to $.

Incidentally, if you know you're going to do a belly landing, there was a lengthy discussion a couple of years back on whether one should try to salvage one engine and prop (presumably the younger of the two engines) by shutting it off and feathering it, making the final approach on a single engine. If memory serves, that was recommended only for the truly experienced, those who have had considerable exposure to single-engine operation and are certain that they can maintain fine control with only one engine. For the rest of us, considernig that a belly landing gone awry can have fatal consequences, the recommendation was that you try the most controlled and softest touch down possible, and the odds are that you'll do that better with two engines -- with what we're used to -- than with one engine.

Ernie

[Francisco]

Ernie, I doubt this guy had any clue he has not lowered the gear.. I 'm speculating of course....


Francisco

[Bob Cook]

note: Most "minor" accidents, especially gear up, are in CAVU wx.
guess "minor" means the arrangement of metal after the incident still looks like an aircraft >).

I concur the pilot probably had no idea until he started to flair and realized a strange noise from behind...........

usually caused from distraction, inattention and in one case I know the pilot failed to carry a relief tube and he was in somewhat of a hurry to get some "relief".

A big cause is getting behind power curve, throttles above the "horn" position.. and dragging the AC over the fence. In this case the gear horn is of no help. Besides the gear indicator is not in the best location!

you only do it once...

bob

[Paul Sharp]

If you read the link posted in the first msg of this thread, it said that "upon landing the right gear collapsed." That has little (if anything) to do with forgetting to put the gear down in the first place.

[Bob Cook]

Paul

Well..... sure missed that one. just think of all the time I spent expounding the possibility of pilot error..... but... the jury is still out >)

bob

[Bob Cook]

here is another fresh one to ponder. did he have one or two fans running?


bob




IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 8921M Make/Model: C337 Description: 337, M337, MC337, T337B/C/D/E/
Date: 08/06/2003 Time: 1230

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: LAS CRUCES State: NM Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT ON TAKEOFF HAD INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND VEERED TO
THE LEFT AND TOUCHED DOWN OFF RUNWAY, LAS CRUCES, NM

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: METAR KLRU 061250Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 26/12 A3016

OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase: Take-off Operation: General Aviation

Departed: LAS CRUCES, NM Dep Date: 08/06/2003 Dep. Time: 1230
Destination: EL PASO, TX Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing: Y
Last Radio Cont: UNICOM
Last Clearance: UNK

FAA FSDO: ALBUQUERQUE, NM (SW01) Entry date: 08/07/2003

[Ernie Martin]

Hold on, hold on. I don't think it's as Paul says, that "upon landing the right gear collapsed". That comment applies to Record 2 of the Report, a separate incident in Florida of a C421. The Report only says "AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP ON RUNWAY 13R". So we don't know what happened.

Ernie

[Paul Sharp]

I didn't do any exhaustive research, but just clicked on the link Francisco included in the original posting, read down the page a little, and saw where it said the right main collapsed on landing. Was I looking at the wrong document for "Brownsville?"

[Ernie Martin]

Paul, if you click the link again, you'll see that it's a long list of incidents. Each is called a "Record", and each Record is separated by 2 horizontal lines of asterisks. Record 1 is the Skymaster incident in Brownsville. Record 2, only a few lines down the page, is an incident in St. Petersburg where "upon landing the right gear collapsed" on a C421.

Ernie

[Francisco]

Bob, that picture sure scared me. I don't want to know what the pilot was thinking at the moment the picture was snaped.

the worst think about accidents is the "out of control time", even though everything moves in slow motion you can't do anyting.

Be carefull up there


Francisco

[Kevin McDole]

Francisco,

Dollars to donuts that picture Bob posted was a fabrication in PhotoShop. Not only is the scale of the two vehicles incorrect, but the shadows have lots of contradictions.

Bob, Am I right?

[WebMaster]

My office is about 2000 ft from 8R at GRR, and so occasionally I look up and will see a plane on final. Or taking off.
Just a few minutes ago, I watched a 182RG come out of the clouds (it's low ceilings today), lined up for 26R, flaps down, and gear up.
Hope he intends to go around

[skymstr02]

Attached is a pic of an O-2 at NhaTrang, republic of VietNam, 1968