Further to this email, I have just remembered the last quite experienced
pilot that I pulled the bung on at 400'. He attempted to turn with the
nose above the horizon which I stopped, and then proceeeded to become
indecisive and I had to take over as the option he was going to take
could have put us into the fence at the end of the cross-strip. His
pre-take-off checks were impeccable but when it came to the real thing,
he was out of his depth.
At the subsequent de-briefing when I asked him why he was going to turn
with the nose above the horizon, he said: "but we had 60 knots on the
clock!". He had forgotten about inertia and airspeed indicator lag and
that a steep turn in a climbing vector can quickly become a stall turn
if not executed precisely. The last time he had performed a low level
rope break was seven (7) years previously.
We had another "normal" check flight that he passed, and he thanked me
for "waking him up" from his complacency.
PeterS
Peter Stephenson wrote:
I agree with MT as well. As an instructor, I only ever pull the bung
if I am absolutely confident that I can handle the emergency if the
student/pilot-on-check stuffs up or takes a poor option. My hand is
almost on the stick to prevent an error.
It is never below 300' AGL unless I can land ahead.
Prior to being an instructor, I was always disappointed when the
annual check instructor did *not* pull a low level release because I
was confident that I could do them but was never tested. I have had
an AEI ask to practice a 300' release in a strong wind, as he felt the
same.
Recently at Caboolture we had a power pilot who lost power on take
off at a very low height and he just pushed the nose forward and
pancaked his beautifully restored aircraft. Obviously he had a habit
of "hanging on the prop" on take off and learned the hard way.
PeterS
Texler, Michael wrote:
I doubt there is any training value at all in 400 to 500 feet.
I believe that there is some training value in such a flight:
The ability to fly and manoevure confidently at low level without getting
ground fright. (i.e. if I had the option to do a low level circuit for a safe
landing on field after a rope break, that would my first option).
Also low level flight is experience with ridge flying too.
Also in still wind conditions, a 180 degree turn can be considered.
Such manoevures need to be demonstrated at altitude, i.e. demonstrate a 180
degree change of heading with minimum height loss, in a Grob G103, banked at 60
degrees, 60 knots airspeed, in still air, height loss in a 180 degree turn is
150', with a diameter of the turn of 120m
Obviously needs to be done with a proper briefing, exercise at altitude,
exercise at 400' to 500' AGL, post flight de-brief.
The plane doesn't know how far it is above the ground.
My 2.2c worth
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