Columbia airport california rwr 17 departures

[Skybrd]

First I would like to pay my respects to Patrick and his family. After reading about his accident, was wondering if Columbia airport in California could be dangerous for Mooneys with the terrain rising shortly after liftoff.  The last time I departed Columbia mid day and the density altitude being over 4000 feet, I notice my climbout was not very good. I had my fuel tanks almost topped off and had one passenger. I'm planning on moving near Columbia soon and wonder if any of you have had simular low climb at that airport. I read that a Beech Bonanza had a problem with Columbia.  BTW, I used partial flaps on take off and held my brakes for a short while for the engine to wind up.

[mooneygirl]

We have departed Columbia quite a bit after the Father's Day Fly-In where the Ambassadors display.  It is usually hot and we are loaded [but not overloaded!].  We do lean for best RPM, but as you say, it is not a fun experience.  We did witness a fellow Mooney pilot have real problems departing Big Bear, CA in very hot weather.  We thought we lost him, but he was able to climb in circles over a dry lake bed.

There are no such alternatives at Columbia, and it feels very similar to Jackson/Westover.

[rahill]

There really isn't much, if any, rising terrain when departing 17 at Columbia -- although it sure feels like there is!

 

http://tinyurl.com/c53fc7g

The runway is downhill and if you jog left just a little you can avoid anything that rises.  Even if you go perfectly straight, the high point is just past the road and about the same elevation as the center of the runway (2080').

That being said, the climb rate (or lack of) on a hot day is something to be aware of.  Consider the temperature, density altitude, etc. and be sure to lean correctly.

Rich

 

[Skybrd]

Quote: rahill

There really isn't much, if any, rising terrain when departing 17 at Columbia -- although it sure feels like there is!

 

http://tinyurl.com/c53fc7g

The runway is downhill and if you jog left just a little you can avoid anything that rises.  Even if you go perfectly straight, the high point is just past the road and about the same elevation as the center of the runway (2080').

That being said, the climb rate (or lack of) on a hot day is something to be aware of.  Consider the temperature, density altitude, etc. and be sure to lean correctly.

Rich

 Thanks Jolie and Rich,  Maybe the downhill roll and immediate climb is what is giving me the effect of a poor climbout. I normally don't lean at low altitude airports but I guess I should change my technique with a higher density altitude. Do you think we're getting much help by using partial flaps. I know the drag goes up hopefully the extra lift will benfit over the increased drag. -- I once had a close call on take off from a mountain strip. It was in the Sierra mountains near Olancha Peak and south of Mt Whitney. The strip was called Templeton Meadows and had a one way landing approach and opposite take off. I saw from the air two planes sitting at the strip and decided to land. Landing was easy and nearly perfect. After talking to the pilots, I became concerned if I was going to be able to fly it out. They asked me if I had my tools with me, since they said I would never fly it out. The plane was a Cherokee 140. It did make it out but only by a miracle and the take off terrain went lower as I continued. Templeton Meadows is now closed as well as Tunnel Meadows and Monache Meadows.

[N9453V]

I've been into O22 and never had any issues even in an M20G at max gross. I was in the air well before the mid point of the runway. The terrain looks more intimidating than it actually is.

The trick when density altitude is over 3000ft is just to apply full power, hold the breaks and lean till there is an RPM drop then encrichen till you get best power. I was ferrying a 1966 E model a few weeks ago and stopped for fuel at DMN (Deming, NM). It has a field elevation of 4300ft, but since it was a hot day, density altitude was over 7000ft. I leaned best power and even with full fuel, only needed about 2000ft of runway and was getting about a 400-500fpm rate of climb.

-Andrew

[flyboy0681]

Quote: mooneygirl

  We did witness a fellow Mooney pilot have real problems departing Big Bear, CA in very hot weather.  We thought we lost him, but he was able to climb in circles over a dry lake bed.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Skybrd

First I would like to pay my respects to Patrick and his family. After reading about his accident, was wondering if Columbia airport in California could be dangerous for Mooneys with the terrain rising shortly after liftoff.  The last time I departed Columbia mid day and the density altitude being over 4000 feet, I notice my climbout was not very good. I had my fuel tanks almost topped off and had one passenger. I'm planning on moving near Columbia soon and wonder if any of you have had simular low climb at that airport. I read that a Beech Bonanza had a problem with Columbia.  BTW, I used partial flaps on take off and held my brakes for a short while for the engine to wind up.