Mike,
Thanks for the message. Its very difficult to feel I handled it correctly
when I feel I contributed to it happening in the first place!
Its very difficult to explain but I simply didn't contemplate that this
bracket was fitted incorrectly and therefore didn't foresee this happening.
I'm dam beating myself up over it if I'm honest and at the moment full of
mixed emotions about the whole incident and don't understand how I missed it
***In hindsight***
If your engine stops your committed your going down. Just hope the piloting
skills are right to a safe landing. Trouble with my problem was I had
options, this included right and wrong options.
Just to clarify I was very confident of making a safe landing at my
diversion destination and I didn't request the assistance of the Seaking or
fire trucks! I actually felt a little embarrassed about that, although at
one point 10 miles from Humberside I seriously thought the engine was ready
to stop and was grateful having the Seaking shadowing me. Also how that
bracket did NOT go past the carb I don't know. So I guess the chance of a
Engine out was very high.
I have already had a couple of critics say that they would have JUST made a
glide approach to my own base without diverting. With 700M of grass I would
agree I should be capable but there are some additional problems at our
base. Tress on finals 150M from the threshold a very wet surface, plus at
the time no one there to drag me out of a wreck if it all went wrong. I
would have put my odds of greater than 50% of making it but I prefer 100%.
I have since spoken to and thanked all those involved in helping me D&D the
crew of the Seaking and ATC who were great. Still looks like Humberside are
going to charge me a landing fee and overnight parking but guess I cant
complain.
One thing for sure the next available opportunity I WILL be practicing some
glide approaches and I have a list of action points to improve my drills
---From this incident. Also I am searching for some data on glide ratios etc to
calculate height to distance glide data.
regards
Kevin
PS I still have every confidence in the Europa and NSI just not in my
ability to spot potential problems.
-----Original Message-----
From: forum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
Subject: Re: Engine off!
Congratulations, Kevin, on successfully dealing with an in-flight engine
emergency.
Thank you for taking the trouble to put all the details on your website,
together with your analysis. I commend this to everyone, and suggest taking
the time to think about what you would do if faced with a similar situation.
Remember that partial or complete loss of power may happen at any time, with
any type of engine. Although there are drills, such as checking for carb
icing or fuel starvation, while ensuring that you are not distracted from
flying the aeroplane, the cause may be as obscure as this one and there is
nothing you can do to restore normal power control.
If power is lost completely, then you are committed to an immediate forced
landing. When did you last practice this? Are you aware of the glide
performance in your current configuration? Remember that this can be
affected significantly by a stopped propeller, propeller pitch setting, high
or low all up weight, the presence or absence of spats/speed kit, etc.
As in this case, you may be left with a fixed power level so that you have
time to think (as Kevin did) how you can make best use of it to improve your
situation. Kevin chose transit to a large airfield where he had the best
chance of making a successful forced landing, while making good use of the
emergency services to clear the way and offer guidance.
Do take opportunities to practise forced landings. Use the biannual flight
with an instructor to pick up teaching points on your technique. Try
closing the throttle on a cross-country flight and make an approach to a
field (NB 500 feet) -- remember you should be planning to touch down
one-third of the way into the available landing space. Call up your home
airfield on your return, if they are not too busy, and ask for a practice
forced landing from overhead from 3000 feet or 2000 feet.
Fly safely
Mike
Europa Club Safety Officer
m.j.gregory@cranfield.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: forum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
Subject: Engine off!
Though you might be interested to know that I had a stuck throttle at approx
70% power and ended up having to do an engine off landing!!
Not a nice problem to have but the Europa behaved flawlessly as usual even
in the glide with no power.
Its a long story and I have put a write up on my website
www.ukmicrolights.com
I have let NSI and the PFA know. I don't believe there is a problem and
stick my hand up to not previously detecting this misplaced bracket would
end up causing such a problem! There's a photo and explanation on the web
page if your interested. I see no reason to panic but hopefully a
precautionary note to draw attention to correct fitting would probably be a
good outcome.
I have learnt something just like we all do in our home build community and
on a positive note was glad of the support I received from ATZ D&D etc as
well as now having even more confidence in my Europa and ability to land it
without an engine.
Thanks
Kevin
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