After reading over this
week’s accidents on the daily FAA accident reports, it again impresses me how
many of these involved the runway environment. By this I mean simple taxiing ,
take-off or landing.
Now I can understand
having a landing incident, as this is the most difficult phase of basic flight.
But taxiing is another story. Really, how difficult can it be to keep a small
plane, especially with a nose wheel, moving in a straight line? Now, I’m not
talking about taxiing during a hurricane or tornado, just normal mild to
moderate winds. Ok, I’ll give a little on a 20 to 30 knot crosswind, especially
in a high wing plane like a C-150. But under usual conditions there shouldn’t be a major challenge. Remember to
move the control wheel or stick so as to drop the wing that is encountering a
quartering frontal wind. This will help keep the plane from wildly veering into
the wind. Also, keep a light pressure on the brakes to help keep the plane
straight down the taxi-way. Also the rudder will help keep one straight if
applied to offset the turning force of the wind. That means applying some left
rudder when the winds are from the right side.
This same technique
applies to landing, although it is a bit more complex, so I won’t go any
further on that now.
Now
I was struck by how many accidents involved landing a plane and failing to keep
the plane
on
the runway. Several went off into the grass without apparently much damage. But
some managed to get mired in mud, while others turned over or bent some
structural parts. One managed to strike a building, and two others rammed into
fences. That is just poor flying ability and can get rather expensive, or worse
involve serious or fatal injury. One in particular must have dampened the pilot’s
enthusiasm for piloting, as they ended up in a pond.
Reflecting
on some of my experiences brings up two examples of what I’m writing about.
Early in my flying career, I was piloting a tail dragger on a cross country
trip. When I got to the first airport there was a strong wind on the order of
15 to 20 knots in a direct cross wind. I
lined up on the runway but was dismayed to find it almost impossible to hold
the plane in line with the runway. I tried to compensate for the cross wind but
was unable to keep the plane in line with the runway. I had to give up after
two attempts and head for the next airport.
One
other comes to mind. I was flying a Beech B-55 Baron in the New England region
and needed to land at a field in Rhode Island. The wind was strong but
fortunately right down the runway. After landing without a problem, I noted
that our speed dropped much faster than usual. Taxiing was no problem. After
shutting things down I tried to open the cabin door which was facing into the
wind. I could hardly muster enough force to open the door. Getting out on the
wing was scary too. I found out later the wind had been over 50 knots. If that
had been a crosswind, I couldn’t have landed there.
So
always keep the wind in mind when either taxiing, taking-off or landing. It can
either be helpful or a major problem. So learn to deal with it.
Happy
Flying and watch out for the Goblins.
t
