Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Vraciu on September 30, 2017, 10:37:56 AM

Title: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: Vraciu on September 30, 2017, 10:37:56 AM
Good job by this crew.  Action at 0:45.

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

Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: EagleDNY on September 30, 2017, 06:50:22 PM
OUCH!  I think I would have preferred to divert someplace for a water landing. 
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: colmbo on September 30, 2017, 09:41:17 PM
Easier to recover the aircraft off the runway vs working under water to rig the nose wheel.
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: Vraciu on September 30, 2017, 09:52:54 PM
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.
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: mikeWe9a on October 02, 2017, 10:43:27 AM
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
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: Volron on October 02, 2017, 10:50:06 AM
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. :headscratch:
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: Vraciu on October 02, 2017, 01:13:59 PM
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.
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: colmbo on October 02, 2017, 02:34:14 PM
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.
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: DaveBB on October 02, 2017, 04:35:03 PM
Looks like they had trouble shutting down the #1 engine. Anyone else notice that?
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: SFRT - Frenchy on October 02, 2017, 05:29:20 PM
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.
Title: Re: PBY Nose Gear Problem - Emergency Landing
Post by: Vraciu on October 02, 2017, 07:17:03 PM
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.