PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing

[Vraciu]

Good job by this crew.  Action at 0:45.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=w6yii_Leu50

[EagleDNY]

OUCH!  I think I would have preferred to divert someplace for a water landing. 

[colmbo]

Easier to recover the aircraft off the runway vs working under water to rig the nose wheel.

[Vraciu]

Also there's a chance it's not float-worthy for some reason (or the crew isn't current).  I imagine open nose doors would be a problem, too. 

Jack it up, pull the gear down, tow to hangar seems easiest.

[mikeWe9a]

A landing without nose gear in an aircraft like that isn't a HUGE deal.  The engines are high and out of the way, so no engine/prop concerns, and the only thing that contacts the runway (other than the main gear wheels) is the keel of the forward fuselage.  I believe there is a 'cap' strip that runs along the ridge of the keel, which normally would be the primary damage.  It is likely that the aircraft would be returned to service fairly quickly after such a landing.

That said, the pilot appears to have held the nose off the ground until he lost elevator authority, and then dropped it somewhat heavily.  It would likely have been better to lower the nose a bit earlier, while there was enough elevator control to gently lower it to the ground.  They may have to inspect for buckling or other damage due to that.

Mike

[Volron]

He let the nose come down hard, that's for sure.  I'd almost guess that it was because he was treating her like a low wing/engine aircraft.

[Vraciu]

A landing without nose gear in an aircraft like that isn't a HUGE deal.  The engines are high and out of the way, so no engine/prop concerns, and the only thing that contacts the runway (other than the main gear wheels) is the keel of the forward fuselage.  I believe there is a 'cap' strip that runs along the ridge of the keel, which normally would be the primary damage.  It is likely that the aircraft would be returned to service fairly quickly after such a landing.

That said, the pilot appears to have held the nose off the ground until he lost elevator authority, and then dropped it somewhat heavily.  It would likely have been better to lower the nose a bit earlier, while there was enough elevator control to gently lower it to the ground.  They may have to inspect for buckling or other damage due to that.

Mike

Considered that.   Still, you can bang a nose down fairly hard and not hurt anything.  Hopefully that's the case here.

I get the feeling they were aerodynamically braking.   Might be better to hold the nose level until the tail quits flying, though--then you only drop it from a couple of feet.

[colmbo]

Considered that.   Still, you can bang a nose down fairly hard and not hurt anything.  Hopefully that's the case here.

I get the feeling they were aerodynamically braking.   Might be better to hold the nose level until the tail quits flying, though--then you only drop it from a couple of feet.

Having watched several landings over the years with nose wheels not down if I ever have to do it I'm going to ease the nose down well before getting so slow you no longer have elevator authority to hold it off.  The guys I watched that tried holding it to the last ended up doing damage when the nose drops firmly.  IMO better to "fly it" to a soft touchdown.

[DaveBB]

Looks like they had trouble shutting down the #1 engine. Anyone else notice that?

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Having watched several landings over the years with nose wheels not down if I ever have to do it I'm going to ease the nose down well before getting so slow you no longer have elevator authority to hold it off.  The guys I watched that tried holding it to the last ended up doing damage when the nose drops firmly.  IMO better to "fly it" to a soft touchdown.

Yep, my take on it.

[Vraciu]

Having watched several landings over the years with nose wheels not down if I ever have to do it I'm going to ease the nose down well before getting so slow you no longer have elevator authority to hold it off.  The guys I watched that tried holding it to the last ended up doing damage when the nose drops firmly.  IMO better to "fly it" to a soft touchdown.

Can't say I disagree.