Gear up landing

[WardHolbrook]

  On 3/27/2014 at 5:28 AM, jetdriven said:

Excellent advice. In the J I throw the gear handle down them put my fingers on the edge of the glare shield until I get a green light, because that switch feels flimsy. Also I get the "500" call from the aera which is a second reminder and the last chance is ove the threshold whet I confirm flaps and gear are down. Works in everything from the single engine complex, 421s, and the 747 as well.

In the jets I typically set the radar altimeter to 500 feet (unless I'm using it for something serious) and use it to generate a "500 ft" annunciation for me. I use that to confirm that the gear and the flaps are out and the speedbrakes are stowed. The hand stays on the gear selector until you can make the call - "Gear-Down, 3 Green, No Red". It's all about procedures, checklists and flows.  

[MooneyPTG]

I put in a P/N 2040-1-2 Voice Alert in my mooney. It screams in the cockpit and in my headset "check landing gear" when the horn goes off. Gets your attention!!!

[DaV8or]

Before everyone gets too warm and fuzzy about their checklists, GUMPS and added technology, I have to say I am firmly convinced that what causes gear ups is unusual, out of the ordinary distractions and not so much the casual brain fart.

 

When all goes as planed and you fly a perfectly normal pattern, well then everyone does GUMPS, or looks at a checklist, gets the gear down at the usual places and has a nice flight. It's when things go to hell in the pattern that the gear gets over looked. My number one distraction is looking for traffic in a uncontrolled field where the radio calls should put them right where I am... yet I can't see them! My fear of a mid air outweighs my GUMPS check. I have also dealt with open doors, an open oil filler door, botched approach to the wrong runway, engine problems, etc. This is where the pros have an advantage, the 747 and corporate jet guys get a whole other dude to help solve problems and run checklists. Us Mooney pilots have to go it alone.

 

As to the gear horn, I have this true story. I had flown retractable gear planes for years before getting my Mooney, so you would think I would do better, but during my check out in my Mooney, I experienced the early stages of the gear up disaster. The CFI and I were doing pattern work around and around we went. On one circuit, the CFI distracted me with conversation I think and sure enough, I failed to put the gear down on downwind. He knew it, said nothing and let me continue. I pulled the throttle back enough on base leg to activate the gear horn.

 

My brain immediately assumed it was the stall horn because in my mind the gear was down, so I quickly nosed the plane down for greater airspeed, but the horn continued. I checked my ASI and saw that I had plenty of airspeed and that's when I froze. There was a moment of utter confusion and I had to just stop and think it out. What the hell was wrong with this thing? What did I do wrong? Why is this thing screeching at me? I literally had to run a diagnostic of systems checks to understand what was going on. At some point on short final I slapped my forehead and put the gear down.

 

I was truly surprised at how long it took me to finally crack the case of the mysterious siren. In some fairness to me, the plane was new to me and I was not as attune to it's sounds as I am now. Still though, good lesson. To those that say you can't possibly gear up a Mooney because you need the gear to slow down, I am here to tell you my friend, that it is actually pretty easy to slow down the Mooney to landing speeds without the gear. Again, distractions is all it takes.

 

I have since installed an audible warning system to be my digital CFI/First Officer that tells me "Check landing gear" and thankfully I have only ever heard that voice when either testing the system, or practicing engine out procedures. I have never come close to a gear up since that first day, nor had I in the years prior flying the Arrow and the Cutlass. I just know that I am fallible and I suspect nearly everyone else is too. What I have learned is, I need to be conscious of the fact that I am distracted when it happens and that it means I am likely skipping the basics. In these times I have to break the laser focus on the distraction, take a moment and go back to flying the plane. It is the serious challenge of single pilot ops.

[Mooneymite]

  On 5/7/2014 at 2:12 PM, DaV8or said:

Before everyone gets too warm and fuzzy about their checklists, GUMPS and added technology, I have to say I am firmly convinced that what causes gear ups is unusual, out of the ordinary distractions and not so much the casual brain fart.

 

Absolutely, correct.

 

Whatever it is that makes you forget to put the gear down, will also make you forget to do the checklist.

[carusoam]

Nicely written Dave!

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

I taught my family the sterile cockpit rule early on. Trust me, that was tough when the kids were young (long before I had an "ISO" button on the intercom, the wife would unplugged their headsets from the intercom). Whether it was intentional distractions or not, I have told several instructors over the years to "shut up" during the landing phase. They are worse than a 4 year old saying they have to go pee for the last 10 minutes of a flight.

[orionflt]

  On 5/7/2014 at 3:23 PM, Marauder said:

I taught my family the sterile cockpit rule early on. Trust me, that was tough when the kids were young (long before I had an "ISO" button on the intercom, the wife would unplugged their headsets from the intercom). Whether it was intentional distractions or not, I have told several instructors over the years to "shut up" during the landing phase. They are worse than a 4 year old saying they have to go pee for the last 10 minutes of a flight.

I did the same with my, I also fly a lot of young eagles and that is one of the first things I brief prior to engine starts. most kids are very good and being quiet every once in a while you get one so excited that you may have to remind them a few times but they try  

 

Brian

[scottfromiowa]

Audible Gear Warning. CHEAP compared to the cost of distraction....My CFI did not say "Oh, sorry I pulled power on downwind after you had flown for two hours...under the hood for one...and already completed four touch and go's and a simulated emergency outside the pattern...What I got was "Sorry, I forgot it had retractable gear"...after she literally had be told to "get out" after we had slid to a halt and I had shut off ignition/master/dturned fuel to off...Then she literally ran away from the plane and asked me to say "I was alone in the aircraft"...Nice.

They don't generally pony up to repair the damage. Neither do Controllers that ask you to "Expediate to final for approaching Commercial traffic"...

Distractions...Ding, ding...we've got a winner.

[jetdriven]

Yep, you got caught in a trap, Scott. If asked to make a short approach, one technique is to put the gear down right then and adjust the pattern to fit.  Same can be said for simulated engine failures on downwind, but I quit doing those for the most part.

[scottfromiowa]

The airport had a displaced runway (Iowa City-Now runway is closed). Really focused on flying a tight pattern and landing beyond the displaced section. _ _ IT Happens...

No touch and go's for this guy...

Or flying with that CFI...

The pre-stall audible alert along with the gear are really cheap insurance...

I have had the gear annunce twice. The J-Bar interlock was "NOT QUITE SEATED"? and alarmed. I was right seat with my co-owner and said "Go Around"...Other time was with my wife. I yanked on the gear...appeared locked. I unlocked and re-locked and alarm was silenced. Two potential saves? Glad it is on board.

-VFR trying to outclimb a cloud opening...pulling too much??? Nice to have a nanny let you know to ease that back pressure...

Since the install was "free" FBO closed and my avionics "guy" got laid off. Never got a bill. NICE....

[mooniac15u]

  On 5/7/2014 at 5:48 PM, scottfromiowa said:

The airport had a displaced runway (Iowa City-Now runway is closed).

 

That was my favorite runway at KIOW.  It felt like it was almost as wide as it was long.  Were you coming in over the hill onto 18?  It sure felt like you were close to the trees coming in that direction.

[scottfromiowa]

  On 5/7/2014 at 6:38 PM, mooniac15u said:

That was my favorite runway at KIOW.  It felt like it was almost as wide as it was long.  Were you coming in over the hill onto 18?  It sure felt like you were close to the trees coming in that direction.

Yup. My only adventurous day on that runway. It was decommissioned shortly after that. New East West runway is also really wide. Glad your memories are better for that runway

[rbridges]

  On 5/7/2014 at 7:03 PM, scottfromiowa said:

Yup. My only adventurous day on that runway. It was decommissioned shortly after that. New East West runway is also really wide. Glad your memories are better for that runway

 

did your CFI get any flack over the gear up?  I can't believe she bailed on you like that.

[carusoam]

Don't read this, you won't like being told that you are responsible, when you're technically not....

It's an unfortunate situation...

This is why we like our Mooney specific CFIIs!

We like to pay more for the probability that we can save exponentially more in the long run.

Anyone that's been here a while has been part of the discussion on distraction and the effects of workload, age, health, rest, oxygen, stress, food and...rushed procedures?

Anybody not familiar with how distraction works?

Anyone believe it won't happen to them?

Anyone believe a CFI is always going to behave rationally immediately after being technically responsible for a gear up landing in someone else's expensive plane?

Anyone believe insurance is for the other guy?

It's important to hire the best people when you put your plane in there hands.... If you don't, you at least went in with both eyes open!

Even when you hire the right people, you can still run into conditions that may not be recoverable. CFIs don't come with guarantees, do they?

Good news. Fortunately, the factory has mounted a green light where I can see it and the runway at the same time. There will be no landing if I don't see that green light. (I hope)

We are all different. When it comes to distraction and sense of time passing, some of us are way sharper than others...

Wish I was on of those people...

My thoughts as I have aged anyway,

-a-

[scottfromiowa]

We both had same insurance carrier. They aren't going to subrogate against thenselves....so.....

We both did a check ride.

Almost a decade ago. A learning experience for both of us no doubt.

I have zero animosity toward her. Went to her wedding....

But I won't choose to user her for a BFR or further instruction.

I have posted my details before. Not ashamed. Hope others can learn from and not experience simiilar circumstances.

It is/was not a good day. There have been many good Mooney days since.

[gsxrpilot]

  On 1/16/2013 at 12:59 PM, Dale Logsdon said:

my STC paperwork says it is a Gear Alert System P/N 2037 made by Aircraft Componets of Safety Harbor Fl.

Did a quick search of the internet and didn't find them but the system is advertised in the Aircraft Spruce catalog for $1,438.00.

I just removed this system from my C this week.  I can't stand the voice and is scares the passengers.  I've been successfully relying on the normal horn for years and just prefer it.  

[DaV8or]

  On 5/8/2014 at 2:51 AM, gsxrpilot said:

I just removed this system from my C this week.  I can't stand the voice and is scares the passengers.  I've been successfully relying on the normal horn for years and just prefer it.  

 

I don't understand, why do your passengers ever hear it? If everything is adjusted correctly, nobody should ever hear it unless the gear really is up on approach. I would imagine the gear horn also comes on? If so, doesn't that freak out the passengers too? On a normal flight, I never hear my gear horn, or my audible alert.

[scottfromiowa]

  On 5/8/2014 at 3:00 AM, DaV8or said:

I don't understand, why do your passengers ever hear it? If everything is adjusted correctly, nobody should ever hear it unless the gear really is up on approach. I would imagine the gear horn also comes on? If so, doesn't that freak out the passengers too? On a normal flight, I never hear my gear horn, or my audible alert.

Exactly right Dave.

Whatever floats your boat Paul. Keep those wheels rolling...and please do elaborate on why your audible gear alert is...alerting...and causing passengers to be alarmed. I look forward to hearing about that.

[fantom]

 

Bonanza Makes Gear-Up Landing

July 3, 2014

 

Hugs and high-fives were shared between a pilot and his three passengers after they safely exited their airplane following an unfortunate event this week at the San Antonio International Airport. The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza the pilot was flying had just landed gear-up. According to local news reports, the pilot had circled the area for nearly two hours after the left main gear remained stuck in its wheel well. The nose gear and right main both extended normally.

 

The pilot appears to have made a good decision by retracting the functioning gear and landing on the belly of the airplane. Despite the stressful situation, the pilot made what looked like a smooth approach and as smooth a landing as one could execute in an airplane without landing gear.

 

Watch the successful belly landing here.

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/video-bonanza-makes-gear-landing#S2X2ktR4ZoS0x2c7.99

[carusoam]

Mooney pilots are usually aggravated and dismayed by a GUL...

Beech guys have hugging and high fives...

Why the difference?

-a-

[DaV8or]

  On 7/8/2014 at 3:36 AM, carusoam said:

Mooney pilots are usually aggravated and dismayed by a GUL...

Beech guys have hugging and high fives...

Why the difference?

-a-

 

Everybody knows Beech pilots are loaded with cash to burn. A gear up just means they get the excuse to move up to the Baron they really wanted anyways!

[phecksel]

Down wind, abeam the runway, gear was down, period.

 

Straight in, mile out, gear went down.  Flaps not touched until gear down.

 

IFR was much easier, FAF, gear went down, set up perfect glideslope.

 

In all cases, hand touched the J-Bar on short final.

 

The ONE time I violated my policy, I repeatidly told my ex to don't let me forget the gear.  I was fighting a 60kt headwind on final and intentially kept the gear up!

[btransue]

FP GUMPSAC LL

[RJBrown]

It is the unusual that gets em every time.

Two days ago a friend took off in his Piper door popped open. He decided to land and secure the door.

Wind noise masked the gear horn. 
 

gear up.

there but for the grace.....
when things get weird, slow down

[A64Pilot]

Long time ago I attended a Cockpit coordination class the Army bought from an airline.

The one thing I took away from the class was the acronym SLOJ.

‘The FAA apparently long ago was trying to determine why it was that a very experienced, very professional pilots just did something stupid, something way out of character for him, this was back when there were essentially no Her’s.

‘Anyway a whole lot of money was spent on grants to Colleges etc to study why, and all they eventually came up with was the acronym SLOJ.

SLOJ is sudden loss of judgement, it seems that any or all of us are not immune to just very rarely doing something stupid, we are well rested. not stressed, every thing is just fine, you have been driving the same route to work for 20 years, and today you run the stop sign that you have stopped at for 20 years, or the super experienced 747 driver lands long and runs off the runway in beautiful weather.

‘The Commercial guys have a second in command and they and the pilot have been briefed over and over that the SIC has a vote too etc., It’s very unlikely that both will get SLOJ simultaneously

Single pilot aircraft about the best defense is rote memorization and strict adherence to checklists, and even then that’s not infallible, it seems the call out and answer checklists, just answering takes the place of doing mentally, so answering gear down can reconcile in your mind they are down, when you never touched the switch.

Several automatic systems have been installed. I believe it’s Piper that if you fall below a certain airspeed, the gear come down automatically, seemed like a good idea, but it’s caused problems too, so most are disabled now I believe.

‘I’ve got a pretty good bit of C-210 time, I’m so paranoid about gear that I don’t think I will forget. The thing I do forget is the stupid boost pump for some reason.

Edited May 20, 2021 by A64Pilot