Tweet
Not a Taylorcraft but interesting all the same:
This is how I remember the incident:
After dispatching skydivers I dropped the landing gear and closed the door.
Trimmed, prepared for and started the descent.
Approximately half way into the green the aircraft started to shake uncontrollably and in a destructive manner.
Came back on the power and pulled the nose up.
Aircraft eventually stopped shaking (approximately 10+ seconds?) and fell to the left which I managed to correct with rudder as the yoke was jammed in the full left position. :shock:
In hindsight I think the shaking stopped when the right aileron broke.
Managed to stabilise the aircraft as in flying straight with rudder and much reduced vibration.
Less than 100 mph she wanted to stall and there was not enough rudder control.
Looked out both windows and realised I was in trouble and could not land the aircraft.
The yoke was jammed in full left and both ailerons were pointing up at about 15 degrees with the right aileron dislodged and sitting proud inches below the wing. :shock:
I had two big speed brakes.
I would have left the aircraft at this stage had I been wearing my parachute.
Called CT international and declared an emergency.
Described nature of emergency and requested another frequency to chat and remove other aircraft from my scenario.
Options were offered.
At this stage I was heading out to sea and was too scared to turn.
I came back to them after I managed to rudder inch the aircraft around from 270 to 170 to face Cape Town.
All options considered I chose Cape Town for the best available emergency services.
With the way the aircraft was behaving I never actually expected to make Cape Town but I was dealing with bite size chunks.
I was not sure how far down the wing could drop before the rudder would not bring it back and I dreaded one of those thermic drop a wing scenarios.
Cape Town initially cleared me to join the circuit! then corrected that with cleared to join long final 19 with all aircraft cleared in the area.
I declined a request for me to land 16 as wind was 18 and I wanted no crosswind component.
Manipulated rudder, throttle and trim tab to set course for Cape Town - cleared for straight in approach 19 with full emergency services on standby.
Decided not to use yoke or elevator in case it dislodged/ broke anything else.
At about 10 miles I practiced/ simulated the landing a few times before arrival so I knew what to expect.
The yoke locked in a full left position was a constant reminder that this was going to end badly.
Tightened seat belt and decided not to open door at the risk of disturbing flight path.
Transfer to tower 118.1 and they confirmed clear to land, all emergency services on standby and wished me good luck.
Upon request the tower confirmed fire truck at intersection charlie, so told them I would land there.
100 mph, over runway, rt rudder to bring left wing up, left rudder for center line and dropped power at the same time.
Used yoke to help flare as speed bled off at the end.
Greaser landing and stopped next to the fire truck. :shock:
Taxi through main apron to maintenance hangars and took these photos... :shock:
We never go anywhere near VNE.
We descend at top of green.
There must be a stronger word than FLUTTER!
This is how I remember the incident:
After dispatching skydivers I dropped the landing gear and closed the door.
Trimmed, prepared for and started the descent.
Approximately half way into the green the aircraft started to shake uncontrollably and in a destructive manner.
Came back on the power and pulled the nose up.
Aircraft eventually stopped shaking (approximately 10+ seconds?) and fell to the left which I managed to correct with rudder as the yoke was jammed in the full left position. :shock:
In hindsight I think the shaking stopped when the right aileron broke.
Managed to stabilise the aircraft as in flying straight with rudder and much reduced vibration.
Less than 100 mph she wanted to stall and there was not enough rudder control.
Looked out both windows and realised I was in trouble and could not land the aircraft.
The yoke was jammed in full left and both ailerons were pointing up at about 15 degrees with the right aileron dislodged and sitting proud inches below the wing. :shock:
I had two big speed brakes.
I would have left the aircraft at this stage had I been wearing my parachute.
Called CT international and declared an emergency.
Described nature of emergency and requested another frequency to chat and remove other aircraft from my scenario.
Options were offered.
At this stage I was heading out to sea and was too scared to turn.
I came back to them after I managed to rudder inch the aircraft around from 270 to 170 to face Cape Town.
All options considered I chose Cape Town for the best available emergency services.
With the way the aircraft was behaving I never actually expected to make Cape Town but I was dealing with bite size chunks.
I was not sure how far down the wing could drop before the rudder would not bring it back and I dreaded one of those thermic drop a wing scenarios.
Cape Town initially cleared me to join the circuit! then corrected that with cleared to join long final 19 with all aircraft cleared in the area.
I declined a request for me to land 16 as wind was 18 and I wanted no crosswind component.
Manipulated rudder, throttle and trim tab to set course for Cape Town - cleared for straight in approach 19 with full emergency services on standby.
Decided not to use yoke or elevator in case it dislodged/ broke anything else.
At about 10 miles I practiced/ simulated the landing a few times before arrival so I knew what to expect.
The yoke locked in a full left position was a constant reminder that this was going to end badly.
Tightened seat belt and decided not to open door at the risk of disturbing flight path.
Transfer to tower 118.1 and they confirmed clear to land, all emergency services on standby and wished me good luck.
Upon request the tower confirmed fire truck at intersection charlie, so told them I would land there.
100 mph, over runway, rt rudder to bring left wing up, left rudder for center line and dropped power at the same time.
Used yoke to help flare as speed bled off at the end.
Greaser landing and stopped next to the fire truck. :shock:
Taxi through main apron to maintenance hangars and took these photos... :shock:
We never go anywhere near VNE.
We descend at top of green.
There must be a stronger word than FLUTTER!
Attached Files
Comment