Landing Mishap Instigated by Short-Field Touchdown Procedure

Landing Mishap Instigated by Short-Field Touchdown Procedure

Bold and Brassy Here's a hair-raising tale about a misguided approach to a runway landing that ended in a ditch – but fear not, dear reader, for there's a valuable lesson to be learned here!

A Precarious Perch and a Sudden Lift

The saga unfolded in a report submitted by a CFI to the NASA ASRS database. This run-of-the-mill BFR turned into a hairy adventure when a gusty wind wreaked havoc on the game.

The pilot in command (PIC) was a seasoned private pilot, but on this day, his courage was pushed to the limit. Winds gusting 27 knots from 310 degrees made for a tricky takeoff and landing. The PIC planned to use full flaps and a higher-than-usual speed for the approach and landing, aiming to maintain control despite the weather conditions.

As the aircraft cleared the trees at the runway's end, the PIC cut the power and pitched the aircraft down towards the runway. But due to the combination of the gusty wind and the reduced flaps, the aircraft's airspeed skyrocketed. Upon flaring, the aircraft floated down the runway, touched down a little past the halfway point with the brakes applied, and subsequently skidded off the runway, plunging into a ditch.

What Just Happened?

So, what exactly went awry?

Well, my dear friend, as the pilot soared over the trees, they slashed the power and plummeted towards the runway, banking on the power reduction to control their airspeed. Sadly, with less flap, they weren't dealing with a very draggy plane, making it more challenging to keep a steady descent.

In this particular landing, the pilot was already carrying more airspeed due to the gusty headwind. As they plummeted after clearing the obstacle, the airspeed increased even more, resulting in excessive floating and an eventual runway overrun.

The Remedy? Navigate with a Steady Climb

You see, to safely clear an obstacle at the runway's approach end, you should adopt a steeper-than-usual approach. By flying this steeper angle, you can zoop right over the obstacle without using up too much runway before you touch down.

Flying a steeper descent path grants you more runway to land on, and by maintaining a constant rate of descent rather than a "chop and drop" approach, you keep your airspeed stable all the way to the runway.

In the Wind, Sailing Faster is Safer

Now, when it's windy like a son of a gun, sporting a slightly faster airspeed on approach isn't all that bad. In most cases, adding half the gust factor to your approach speed is the recommended course of action. So, for winds at 17 knots, gusting 27, adding 5 knots to your final approach speed would've been just the ticket. We don't know the PIC's exact speed, but cranking it up further than advised could have exacerbated the described runway overrun.

But beware – competently flying a steeper approach carries its own pitfalls. Since you're gliding at a more vertical angle with a higher descent rate, Pilot Jones, judging your flare becomes trickier than a two-dollar whore in a brothel. You'll need to angle the nose upward more aggressively in the flare to arrest your descent rate and without tearing up the runway, snagging the ball in the tricks basket.

Timing the flare on a short field landing comes down to practice and a bazillion reps. Flare too late, and you'll be slamming the cue stick into the eight ball. Flare too soon, and you'll wind up with a stall, only to land like an unlucky joker. Neither card in the deck is a winner, and the best strategy to side-step either scenario is, of course, practice—and lots of it.

Finally, selecting a bail-out spot on a short field approach is crucial. The CFI in the story regrettably missed his cue to bail out when he saw power lines and a tree not far behind.picker

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[1] Enrichment Data: To minimize runway overruns during chop and drop landings, especially when encountering decreased flap usage, choppy weather conditions, or specific runway and environmental factors, follow these key strategies:

1. Proper Aircraft Configuration and Landing Speeds- Match flap settings to contain airspeed and maintain control, considering the increased landing distance required by reduced flaps.- Select a stable landing speed that doesn't leave you floating.- Add a gust factor (typically half the gust difference) to landing speed when contending with gusty winds to avoid sudden sink rates or excessive float on touchdown.

2. Strategic and Timely Chop and Drop Technique- Assure the power reduction and descent are smooth and accurate to avoid inadvertent floating.- Angle the nose up promptly after touchdown, being mindful of using maximum available braking and aerodynamic drag (spoilers/reverse thrust) to halt your descent and skid as quickly as possible.- Strive for a firm touchdown within the first third of the runway.

3. Payment of Attention to Runway Overrun Prevention Systems (ROPS) when Equipped- Leverage systems such as Airbus ROPS to make go/no-go decisions, correct descent errors, and alert you to insufficient runway length based on the aircraft's weight, speed, configuration, wind, and runway slope.

4. Mindfulness of Environmental and Runway Conditions- Be on high alert for sudden wind gusts, requiring adjustments in approach speed and proper anticipation.- Account for wet or contaminated runways, which increase the required stopping distance, by planning for extended landing rolls.- Maximize the available braking effect and aerodynamic drag (e.g., spoilers or reverse thrust) quickly after touchdown.

5. Ongoing Practice and Runway Situational Awareness- Constantly practice and fine-tune your flare techniques to achieve smooth landings.- Visualize possible go-around situations and know your bail-out points.- Be extra cautious when landing with reduced flaps, as the increased lift coefficient may result in a shorter, faster landing roll.

1. The CFI's report to NASA ASRS detailed a precarious flight, where a BFR's takeoff and landing were challenged by gusty winds.
2. The seasoned private pilot, despite being experienced, found the conditions tricky, planning to use full flaps and a higher-than-usual speed for the approach and landing.
3. As the aircraft cleared the trees, the pilot cut the power and pitched the aircraft down, yet the combination of the wind and reduced flaps caused the airspeed to soar.
4. Upon flaring, the aircraft floated down the runway, touched down a little past the halfway point, skidded off the runway, and plunged into a ditch.
5. To safely clear an obstacle at the runway's approach end, a steeper-than-usual approach should be adopted, which grants more runway for landing.
6. Maintaining a constant rate of descent rather than a "chop and drop" approach keeps airspeed stable all the way to the runway.
7. In windy conditions, flying a slightly faster airspeed on approach isn't detrimental, but adding only half the gust factor is recommended.
8. When flying a steeper approach, judging the flare becomes more challenging, requiring aggressive nose-up movements.
9. Practice is crucial to perfecting short field landings, and selecting a bail-out spot plays a significant role in preventing disaster.

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