2/6/08
So, you think it?s easier to keep a nose roller on the runway? I would argue that without the proper technique and skills, a nosewheel equipped aircraft can EASILY leave the runway with a five knot crosswind.
I have a data point.
The wx was great in Texas today, so around 1430 I threw on the shades, put the top down on the Miata and drove out to the airport to take the RV-6 around the patch. Had a wonderful time ? overflew the boy?s school right as they were letting out so he could get some ?street cred? with the other first graders, then out over the lake for some steep turns, then finally back to 52F for some touch and go?s. Viz was clear and a million and the airspace was all mine.
Little crosswind from the left requiring a smidge right rudder in the flare on runway 35. No biggie. Not even close to a biggie.
.5 on the hobbs and taxied into the hangar for shut down. Life is good.
On the drive out I went through a puddle, and since I had washed my car a couple of days prior, I intentionally parked up against the hangar so I could wipe the mud off with a towel after I got done flying. Usually I park about fifteen feet further away out near where the edge of our ramp is.
So, there I am?.wiping the right side of my car down?when I hear a noise. I look up to see a C172 on rollout, only it?s pointed directly at me. Really. I drop the towel and walk ?with conviction? into the hanger while the plane is still about a hundred feet from the car.
It missed, going by where my car is usually parked at an estimated 35 kts. If a full size truck had been parked there the wing would have impacted its windshield.
There were three tire tracks running right by where I usually park?and I think the wing strut would have hit me had I been on the right side of the car wiping it down at that moment.
Lesson learned. Don?t assume that a plane won?t 1) leave the runway 2) cross the grass runway 3) cross the taxiway and 4) go right past where you usually park. I?m parking up against the hangar from now on.
So, the plane in question finally got back on the taxiway about 250? down from me and stopped at the north end of the airport for about 15 minutes (I suspect to clean his seat). He taxied by me, where I was looking for the obviously blown right tire (plane was fine).
I watched where he parked the plane (in front of one of the flight schools), then rode my mini bike over to see if he was OK (he was).
?So, you OK?? (yes)
?Student pilot?? (yes)
?How much time you got?? (about ten hours in that particular plane)
I politely suggested he get some more dual on proper landing technique and suggested he not fly solo again until he addressed those deficiencies. After I got back to my hangar I called the flight school and left them a message to call me. I want them to know that they almost lost a plane, my car and possibly me to a five knot crosswind. My theory is that he put in right rudder to compensate then forced the nosewheel down with the right foot still down). Man, that dang thing was coming right for me. I had visions of a fruit cart getting smashed in a movie chase scene, complete with me diving for the deck. All it needed was some fast banjo music and Steve McQueen in a Ford Mustang.
I suspect his ground track was something like this. I'm the red 'X'.
I?m not showing the photos of the flight school (and won?t if they can assure me in writing that this individual will not solo again without more dual training). If they don?t contact me here in the next day or so I?ll contact the feds to see if I can lodge some kind of complaint with the flight school.
[ed. 2/7/8 update: The flight school called me and we're cool. They are going to pull his solo card and give him some more landing instruction. Owner of the school was glad I called, btw. dr]
My point to all this? If you think you?re completely safe on the ground parked a hundred fifty feet off the centerline in the middle of the airport?s property?.you might not be. I'm also going to be MUCH more vigalent at watching planes in the flare while I'm taxiing down to the active and I'd suggest those visiting 52F do the same.
Keep your head on a swivel at all times.
Doug Reeves
www.VansAirForce.net
So, you think it?s easier to keep a nose roller on the runway? I would argue that without the proper technique and skills, a nosewheel equipped aircraft can EASILY leave the runway with a five knot crosswind.
I have a data point.
The wx was great in Texas today, so around 1430 I threw on the shades, put the top down on the Miata and drove out to the airport to take the RV-6 around the patch. Had a wonderful time ? overflew the boy?s school right as they were letting out so he could get some ?street cred? with the other first graders, then out over the lake for some steep turns, then finally back to 52F for some touch and go?s. Viz was clear and a million and the airspace was all mine.
Little crosswind from the left requiring a smidge right rudder in the flare on runway 35. No biggie. Not even close to a biggie.
.5 on the hobbs and taxied into the hangar for shut down. Life is good.
On the drive out I went through a puddle, and since I had washed my car a couple of days prior, I intentionally parked up against the hangar so I could wipe the mud off with a towel after I got done flying. Usually I park about fifteen feet further away out near where the edge of our ramp is.
So, there I am?.wiping the right side of my car down?when I hear a noise. I look up to see a C172 on rollout, only it?s pointed directly at me. Really. I drop the towel and walk ?with conviction? into the hanger while the plane is still about a hundred feet from the car.
It missed, going by where my car is usually parked at an estimated 35 kts. If a full size truck had been parked there the wing would have impacted its windshield.
There were three tire tracks running right by where I usually park?and I think the wing strut would have hit me had I been on the right side of the car wiping it down at that moment.
Lesson learned. Don?t assume that a plane won?t 1) leave the runway 2) cross the grass runway 3) cross the taxiway and 4) go right past where you usually park. I?m parking up against the hangar from now on.
So, the plane in question finally got back on the taxiway about 250? down from me and stopped at the north end of the airport for about 15 minutes (I suspect to clean his seat). He taxied by me, where I was looking for the obviously blown right tire (plane was fine).
I watched where he parked the plane (in front of one of the flight schools), then rode my mini bike over to see if he was OK (he was).
?So, you OK?? (yes)
?Student pilot?? (yes)
?How much time you got?? (about ten hours in that particular plane)
I politely suggested he get some more dual on proper landing technique and suggested he not fly solo again until he addressed those deficiencies. After I got back to my hangar I called the flight school and left them a message to call me. I want them to know that they almost lost a plane, my car and possibly me to a five knot crosswind. My theory is that he put in right rudder to compensate then forced the nosewheel down with the right foot still down). Man, that dang thing was coming right for me. I had visions of a fruit cart getting smashed in a movie chase scene, complete with me diving for the deck. All it needed was some fast banjo music and Steve McQueen in a Ford Mustang.
I think it's OK to put the nosewheel down at this point and stomp on the left pedal...
I suspect his ground track was something like this. I'm the red 'X'.
I?m not showing the photos of the flight school (and won?t if they can assure me in writing that this individual will not solo again without more dual training). If they don?t contact me here in the next day or so I?ll contact the feds to see if I can lodge some kind of complaint with the flight school.
[ed. 2/7/8 update: The flight school called me and we're cool. They are going to pull his solo card and give him some more landing instruction. Owner of the school was glad I called, btw. dr]
My point to all this? If you think you?re completely safe on the ground parked a hundred fifty feet off the centerline in the middle of the airport?s property?.you might not be. I'm also going to be MUCH more vigalent at watching planes in the flare while I'm taxiing down to the active and I'd suggest those visiting 52F do the same.
Keep your head on a swivel at all times.
Doug Reeves
www.VansAirForce.net
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