Undercarriage Emergency - Land with gear up or down?
Airlines of Tasmania VH-NPC, wheels up after a complete hydraulic failure.
Ausair VH-OZ?, wheels after the hydraulic fluid pumped overboard.
In the case of NPC, hydraulic lines had been changed as part of the CofA, then failed after a few hours of service, the result being one PA-31/350 parked on its belly.
Ausair VH-OZ?, wheels after the hydraulic fluid pumped overboard.
In the case of NPC, hydraulic lines had been changed as part of the CofA, then failed after a few hours of service, the result being one PA-31/350 parked on its belly.
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GFS C90 Kingair about 2 years ago at YMMB.
Nosewheel wouldn't lock down, landed on the two mains. Stayed straight down the runway.
Good video from the CH9 chopper.
Havn't had to do one myself (thankfully).
What would you do if the wheel can be seen to be down though but not getting a locked indication, and the thing isn't flapping in the airflow? Would suck to belly it because of a microswitch!
Nosewheel wouldn't lock down, landed on the two mains. Stayed straight down the runway.
Good video from the CH9 chopper.
Havn't had to do one myself (thankfully).
What would you do if the wheel can be seen to be down though but not getting a locked indication, and the thing isn't flapping in the airflow? Would suck to belly it because of a microswitch!
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CLX
Obviously a major line breakeage or other huge leak may prevent the emergency pump from pumping the gear down with the small ammount of fluid it has left. But you will find that that safety feature is there, and I know it did work when mine blew a seal.
Go and find out.
Obviously a major line breakeage or other huge leak may prevent the emergency pump from pumping the gear down with the small ammount of fluid it has left. But you will find that that safety feature is there, and I know it did work when mine blew a seal.
Go and find out.
My decision would be based what combination of wheels are left.
If both mains but no nosewheel then I'd choose gear down on a nice long, wide & sealed runway.
If missing a mainwheel then I'd choose wheels up. On the same nice long, wide & sealed runway. A consideration with Navajo is that even with flaps up, a missing main gear can cause the outer rear corner of the flap to contact the ground applying pressure to the rear spar which can damage it and the upper & lower wing skins. Other points of contact and damage include the wingtip, belly skin just aft of the door and tailplane tip. Belly antennas in unlucky locations too, of course.
How do know? I've seen it. And it required a new wing as the most cost effective way to repair due to the labour required to de-rivet most of the wing to replace the rear spar & skins.
If both mains but no nosewheel then I'd choose gear down on a nice long, wide & sealed runway.
If missing a mainwheel then I'd choose wheels up. On the same nice long, wide & sealed runway. A consideration with Navajo is that even with flaps up, a missing main gear can cause the outer rear corner of the flap to contact the ground applying pressure to the rear spar which can damage it and the upper & lower wing skins. Other points of contact and damage include the wingtip, belly skin just aft of the door and tailplane tip. Belly antennas in unlucky locations too, of course.
How do know? I've seen it. And it required a new wing as the most cost effective way to repair due to the labour required to de-rivet most of the wing to replace the rear spar & skins.
