Cessan 120 on Final Flipped by Rotorwash
06-26-2022, 09:01 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Dec 2017
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Cessan 120 on Final Flipped by Rotorwash
This was at Upland-Cable Airport in CA. The 120 pilot was extremely lucky to have survived. There's a YouTube video I'll link that shows the 120 rolling over and crashing, and there's a summary from Aviation Safety Network I'll also link.
https://youtu.be/tZLXMKMgnS8
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/273729
https://youtu.be/tZLXMKMgnS8
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/273729
06-27-2022, 07:44 AM
#2
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
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The article references the pilot saying he applied full left aileron, but nothing is said about full left rudder; the unsaid implication being that full left rudder wasn't used. The article doesn't say which engine is installed in the mishap 120, but barring an aftermarket O-200, even a typical C-85, while not overpowered, takes most of the right rudder input when going around. At best, full left aileron only makes the aircraft fully cross controlled in that circumstance, without necessarily granting a lot of rolling action; appropriate would be left rudder, if unable to provide lateral control with aileron alone.
Scary, not much time to figure it out, and it can be confusing when full control input isn't helping. The pilot is fortunate to have survived, indeed.
Scary, not much time to figure it out, and it can be confusing when full control input isn't helping. The pilot is fortunate to have survived, indeed.
06-27-2022, 09:23 PM
#4
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The pilot reported that he saw the helicopter and decided to land long to maintain separation.
06-28-2022, 07:42 AM
#5
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Also, adding power and pitching up to land long would increase AOA and put them in a situation where there's less control. It's one thing if you adjust the approach path to get onto the same approach angle, further down the runway, but if you just pitch up and add power...higher AOA. I'm a fan of pretty steep approaches in GA aircraft, but just "landing long" isn't going you get you around wake turbulence...that's 2D thinking.
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