Escape

Jim Wright · #1 02-06-2010, 02:19 PM

Has anyone on the Forum experienced an accident or knows of someone who has where the aircraft is upside down and the pilot is trapped in the cockpit? In such circumstances what would be your best means of escape?

David-aviator · #2 02-06-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Wright

Has anyone on the Forum experienced an accident or knows of someone who has where the aircraft is upside down and the pilot is trapped in the cockpit? In such circumstances what would be your best means of escape?

Kick the broken glass to open a hole and crawl out. RV's have an excellent roll over bar, there's room to wiggle, just don't be too quick unhooking the seat belt so as not fall on your head, which is easier said than done thinking there may be a fire.

Been there, done that....

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...17X01762&key=1

.....if anyone is interested.

These airplanes are life extenders if flown to the bloody end as opposed to stalling and spinning in.

Are you selling something, Jim? The thread is in the classified section.

Vern · #3 02-06-2010, 04:46 PM

See my previous writeups of the adventures of the late Frank Eldridge of Waycross, GA

See http://www.vansairforce.net/rv_trave...asttocoast.htm

http://www.rv8.ch/article.php?story=...721&mode=print

Matronics digest link regarding accident

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...03LA035&rpt=fa

Jim Wright · #4 02-06-2010, 04:50 PM

Ooops... Sorry about that. And thank you for your reply. The thought of off airport landings have been on my mind.

DocThrock · #5 02-08-2010, 02:26 PM

Yes, I made an off airport forced landing and ended up trapped under my Rocket. Soon as the wheels hit mud, they dug in, we nosed over, skidded on the lower cowl, and then sorta half cartwheeled over one wingtip, *** over tea kettle. Came down backwards, slightly sideways and hard enough to fold the VS and crunch down the turtledeck about 6 inches.

There was no plexiglass left to kick out. I would have needed a can opener to get out. The gib crawled right out, unscathed. Fortunately, I wasn't too far from civilization, and about 8 emergency workers lifted a wing enough to let me out (some 20 or more minutes later). I had to yell at them NOT to use the jaws of life.

Besides the GIB getting out, it was also fortunate that MY cell phone had a charged battery, AND we could get a signal. Also the ELT worked, even though the antenna was stuck in the mud. And a nice lady saw us before our landing and had already called 911.

I was actually stuck laterally between my seat back and the windshield bow, not vertically between the canopy rails and the ground. I could ALMOST get out. Had there been a fire, I would have tried harder and left some skin behind.

You can see some pictures on my website under the heading ACCIDENT.

Scary, huh?!

Matt
www.docthrock.com

aerhed · #6 02-08-2010, 06:46 PM

One of my profs at school ended upside down in trees in a Stearman. In his discombobulation he popped the harness and went straight down 30 feet or whatever. Broke his back. Kept instructing for like 30 more years. Walked bent over and sat in the Cessnas on a pillow with a 6-6 tire inside that his daughter made. Had a million hours, flew 51's. Pat Schiffer, the human pretzel.

BlndRvtr · #7 02-08-2010, 08:41 PM

Aerhed,

PM sent.

RScott · #8 02-08-2010, 09:37 PM

This was several years ago and the details are fuzzy in what's left of my mind.

A local guy in a -3 or -4 had a problem on takeoff, ended up in the brush off the runway, upside down a few feet off the ground. Couldn't get the canopy open; the brush was both holding the plane off the ground and keeping the canopy closed. It was several hours before someone discovered him.

pierre smith · #9 02-09-2010, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocThrock

Yes, I made an off airport forced landing and ended up trapped under my Rocket. You can see some pictures on my website under the heading ACCIDENT.

Scary, huh?!

Matt
www.docthrock.com

Matt, what caused the engine failure?

Glad to see you on here after that!

Best,

L.Adamson · #10 02-09-2010, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Matt, what caused the engine failure?

Glad to see you on here after that!

Best,

I'm wondering too. I took a good look at the website & found it quite interesting. Just makes me want to know the outcome of the engine & plane, unless I just missed it somewhere.

L.Adamson