Every once in a very great while

[Herk7769]

Every once in a very great while, the Pk of the earth is not 1.0

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On April 11, 2015 I was at a private fly-in in the state of Florida.

I was walking down the flight line of aircraft that flew in for the day which is close to the main runway and noticed this light twin aircraft coming in low.

I noticed he did not have his landing gear down and thought he was going to do a Fly-by, but then noticed the power was pulled back with the aircraft approaching for a landing with no landing gear, the belly and tips of props impacted the runway (The sound of the props hitting the surface was one sound you will not forget).

Once the pilot realized his mistake, he gave what appeared to be full throttle and both props pulled the front of aircraft down with the props making a second impact to runway with the pilot forcing the aircraft into the air. Somehow the engines stayed on and running, the pilot was able to regain control with leaving the airport.

Its amazing the airplane engines did not get destroyed during the props impact and the pilot did not stall out on the forced takeoff with the high angle of attack and damaged props. I heard later the pilot flew back to his home field on one engine. - Dale Hoppas

[Credit: Dale Hoppas / licensing@viralhog.com]

[Cowracer]

Rule #17... If you require full throttle to taxi, you may have left your wheels up.

[wmtire]

How in the sam hill did he get back airborne.......

I take it he didn't go over his landing checklist.

[KennyGolub]

Don't know whether to think he was a bad pilot or great. Leaning toward good because he did manage to get it back up in the air........

[Platokidd]

Good thing you told him to PULL UP

[Indymule]

Originally Posted by KennyGolub

Don't know whether to think he was a bad pilot or great. Leaning toward good because he did manage to get it back up in the air........

Don't mistake GOOD for LUCKY. He was very lucky that those engines did not come apart. Once those props hit, you gotta ride that one out. Trying to go around with the odds of bent shafts are huge and he is lucky those engines did not come apart.

[Cowracer]

I'm not a pilot, but would he not been better off just riding out the belly landing? I mean... Skidding to a stop is probably not as dangerous as having a prop shed a blade at 500 feet AGL.

Tim

[Arefbee]

GUMP Who?

Or as my CFI once yelled

DROP THE LOLLIPOP!!!!

Once the approach has gone pear-shaped, no shame in going around and re-thinking. Tell them there was a bee in the cockpit if anyone asks why.

Normally that does not happen. Normally the props hit the runway, bend, tweak the crank shaft and the "smoothest landing you ever had" begins.

[madmaxmutt]

FOR SALE - Twin Engine Airplane - Minor scratches on underbelly and propellers

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

FOR SALE - Twin Engine Airplane - Minor scratches on underbelly and propellers

Pilot seat needs re-upholstered. Tires like new

Tim