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Author Topic: I'm alive!  (Read 5642 times)

Offline Tupac

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I'm alive!
« on: February 20, 2012, 09:32:22 PM »
Had my first real emergency in a plane today. I was flying to Houston to meet a friend in a rented Cessna 210 when the cockpit started filling up with smoke. I opened up all the windows and vents to get the smoke out, and then  I declared an emergency and went to San Marcos (the closest airport) I lined up to land with the runway and tried to bring the gear down, but the gear wouldn't come down. I started pumping on the hand pump to get the gear down (which I realized was hot) and managed to get the gear down and land safetly. All the firetrucks and stuff met me and I was happy to be on the ground, I didn't realize until all the adrenaline wore off that I burned my hand trying to get the gear down because the handle was so hot. Turns out a hydraulic line busted and there was hydraulic fluid all over the place (cause of the smoke and why I couldnt get the gear down)



Lot's of excitement.
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Offline Tupac

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2012, 09:35:07 PM »
All that wet stuff on the side is hydraulic fluid
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Offline Dichotomy

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2012, 09:38:03 PM »
Wow Tup.. I'm glad you're okay.  *shudders*

 :O

Now I'm kind of freaked bro  :salute
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Offline SoonerMP

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2012, 09:43:55 PM »
Wow! Nothing like the possibility of bodily harm to get the blood flowing. Nice work on getting that bird back to the pavement.   :cheers:
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Offline DEECONX

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2012, 09:45:22 PM »
Glad you made it down sir  :salute
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Offline texasmom

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2012, 09:51:00 PM »
Glad you made it safely!
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Offline eagl

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2012, 09:53:51 PM »
Well done.  That sort of thing can get out of hand quickly even though it *should* be recoverable.
 :aok
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Offline rpm

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2012, 09:58:06 PM »
WTG young Jedi warrior!
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Offline Tupac

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2012, 10:30:11 PM »
Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Stayin' Alive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY&ob=av3e
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Offline Tupac

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2012, 10:37:16 PM »
Really puts things into perspective when something like this happens, though. My hands are still shaking and my eyes still sting a little bit from the smoke. I had a few angels watching me tonight.
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Offline eagl

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2012, 10:38:31 PM »
Don't want to be a downer, but...  Do you think the presence of a cockpit camera would have changed how everything went down?  Would the minor distraction of the camera have affected your analysis or actions?

Obviously we'll never know, but...  After going through that, what do you think about cockpit distractions?  What if you had been listening to music over the intercom from an attached ipod?  Any difference in the scenario there?

Just curious as to what you think about that, not trying to make judgements.  I've made many flights listening to music over the intercom and I flew with a small camera in my pocket for several years, without either potential distraction being a factor in anything.  Then again, the worst car wreck I've been in happened seconds after "back in black" came on the radio while my brother was driving, and he missed seeing a brand-new stopsign while jamming out to the tune and we ended up wrecking 2 rims, an axle, and 2 sets of bearings when we spun into a curb...

So, just curious as to if you have any new opinions on the subject :)


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Offline Tupac

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2012, 10:41:20 PM »
I don't think it would have made a difference. I knew I needed to fly the plane, and the presence of a camera wouldnt have changed that. I was talking to Austin Approach getting flight following when I declared, but if I had been listening to music instead of talking I would have realized something was wrong just as quick I think.
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Offline 1sum41

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2012, 10:52:04 PM »
Glad your safe man! :aok
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Offline colmbo

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2012, 11:08:17 PM »
Why was the gear handle hot enough to burn you?
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Offline coombz

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Re: I'm alive!
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2012, 11:10:21 PM »
glad you made it down OK  :salute
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