Why backcountry landings are good practice

[flightlogic]

I have had some students who seem to wonder why I harp on short, rough country landing techniques so much. Their thought is, I don't do those things. I use big, paved runways and get fuel from a truck and eat at the airport cafe etc.
So, this Tuesday I launch in the Luscombe for California. Stop for gas along the way, since it takes a long time to get anywhere in the Luscombe. On climbout from Twenty Nine Palms, the engine dies at 800 ft. agl. Nothing I try helps. Not mags, mixture, carb heat... or changing tanks.
Get a short, rough dirt road picked out... make a quick, low 180 into the wind. Touchdown on the mains. All is well. Except for the short part. The Luscombe can slip, but has no flaps. The VG's allow for a bit more speed bleed off in that last turn. Shoulder harnesses make the impending rapid loss of speed survivable. So, after the road ended, it was off through the sage brush. A dirt berm finished off the rollout once and for all and she went on her back. The grinding noises from the engine on rollout and then the crunching metal sound during the flip onto the backside leave a lasting impression.
Walked away from the wreckage. That is where the training pays off.
The insurance company can deal with the rest....
Sorry to see the old girl go.

[Zzz]

Glad you're ok, Nick!

Nice work. Airplanes can be replaced a lot more easily than a face or a neck.

[low rider]

Nice job getting yourself on the ground in one piece. Lots of airplanes to choose from right now.....

[courierguy]

Well done!

I totally agree, the practice of making off airport landings may seem pointless to some, but what great training for an emergency like you had. Sounds like a nice low speed event, the only way to crash! Good to have vg's in a situation like that also. Let us know the cause for the engine stoppage.

[flightlogic]

Thanks for the comments guys. Hey Zane, interesting side note. I had recalled your thread about helmets a while back. When she quit this week.... I had my folding bike strapped on the shelf behind me and a helmet there. Could have put it on really quickly for the touch down. Didn't think of it in time.
Glad I belted in the bike though... that could have hurt.

[whee]

Glad to hear your ok. Sad to hear about the loss. Sounds like ya did good puttin her on the ground.

[Zzz]

Hey Zane, interesting side note. I had recalled your thread about helmets a while back.... Could have put it on really quickly for the touch down. Didn't think of it in time.

Yeah, the helmet is something that you have to have on before takeoff. There's so much going on in an engine failure on takeoff that remembering to don your helmet at that point is just practically impossible, especially give that you only have seconds from less than 500 feet.

Only $250...and they're comfy.

[qmdv]

Hey Zane, interesting side note. I had recalled your thread about helmets a while back.... Could have put it on really quickly for the touch down. Didn't think of it in time.

Yeah, the helmet is something that you have to have on before takeoff. There's so much going on in an engine failure on takeoff that remembering to don your helmet at that point is just practically impossible, especially give that you only have seconds from less than 500 feet.

Only $250...and they're comfy.

Do you wear one?

Tim

[Zzz]

Hey Zane, interesting side note. I had recalled your thread about helmets a while back.... Could have put it on really quickly for the touch down. Didn't think of it in time.

Yeah, the helmet is something that you have to have on before takeoff. There's so much going on in an engine failure on takeoff that remembering to don your helmet at that point is just practically impossible, especially give that you only have seconds from less than 500 feet.

Only $250...and they're comfy.

Do you wear one?

Tim

Yes. I recently started.

[rfinkle]

Nick:

Sorry to hear about losing the old girl. Making every landing like it is your last one with no engine and picking your spot saved me last year in Montana. It was natural and second hand except for the lack of engine noise.

My instructor (40 yrs ago) was relentless and gave me lots of practice in this technique.

Rich

[aktahoe1]

Nice work!

Be careful out there gang...seems like a lot of this going around as of late. 1 person bending an aircraft here and another there... Do not get complacent....shit happens very quickly...

Watched a Bonaza come into truckee today and flare way too much just prior to touch down and then look as though he stalled out about 15' off the runway....Slammed onto the runway... Guy was very lucky...

How often are you VERY LUCKY???

Best

[GroundLooper]

Congrats on walking away. That's the most important part. Sorry about the airplane. I hope you're back flying soon.

[Emory Bored]

That sucks about the Luscombe. I'm very glad of course that you made it through relatively unscathed. Do you know yet what caused the failure? I just found that photo you use for an avatar the other day. I wondered if that was the guilty bird but I see from your gallery that it wasn't.

EB

[qmdv]

Nice work!

Be careful out there gang...seems like a lot of this going around as of late. 1 person bending an aircraft here and another there... Do get complacent....shit happens...

Watched a Bonaza come into truckee today and flare way too much just prior to touch down and then look as though he stalled out about 15' off the runway....Slammed onto the runway... Guy was very lucky...

How often are you VERY LUCKY???

Best

I was VERY LUCKY that I-80 was off my left wing three years ago.
Not luck that I have practiced a lot of power off drills.

Tim

[Glidergeek]

I'm glad you survived all that. Sorry for your loss, But why didn't you land on hwy 62

[dirtstrip]

Good job, glad you're Ok. Flaps on the next one?

[courierguy]

DELETE

[Emory Bored]

Just set some bleachers out in the sun
And take it all down on hiway 61

` Bob Dylan

[260Driver]

Glad you made it out all right...

All of this ending upside down on the ground has seriously got me thinking about pulling my helmet out and looking into shoulder harnesses for the Maule

[Grassstrippilot]

[
Yeah, the helmet is something that you have to have on before takeoff. There's so much going on in an engine failure on takeoff that remembering to don your helmet at that point is just practically impossible, especially give that you only have seconds from less than 500 feet.

Only $250...and they're comfy.

Do you wear one?

Tim[/quote]

Yes. I recently started.[/quote]

Not to mention the cool factor!



Sorry to hear about your plane, but good job on getting it down. Exactly the point I drive home when teaching/reviewing simulated engine outs. You may not have a big area to put it in and you better be able to hit your mark!