Paul Sweeting wrote:
>
> Some interesting stats on Ditching...
> http://www.equipped.org/ditchtoc.htm <http://www.equipped.org/ditchtoc.htm>
> <http://www.equipped.org/ditchingmyths.htm>
> ....
Good stuff, but further confusing on whether flaps up or down.
Tri-gear manual says "gear and flaps should be down." A cinch on the
gear part(!), but maybe this faux pas was the result of cut and paste
---From the mono manual? Most sources say flaps down on high wing, up on
low wing. In addition to possible pitch down in the water
(aggravated by the big XS air scoop) and flip-over, one flap may rip
off asymmetrically, causing real trouble. The manual is silent on
whether to unlatch the door(s).
Similarly, on the mono, if one outrigger hits water before the other,
that could be bad too. Lemme guess; factory tested both tri-gear and
mono in the North Sea? Here's a sample I found of what happens in a
minor-injury incident (a Long-EZE; AAIB web site):
"The pilot then informed Shoreham that he intended to ditch into the
sea near to Shoreham harbour. Contact with the water was made at
approximately 60 kt in a nose up attitude. However, as soon as the
main landing gear touched the water it was ripped off causing the
aircraft to pitch nose down. The nose of the aircraft detached on
impact and the instrument panel bulkhead was dragged forward.
Although the fuel tanks were nearly full the foam/fibreglass
construction remained intact and the aircraft floated in a stable
manner and in an upright position."
Note also in this type plane the pilot certainly would have had the
nose gear raised, but still the damage.
Any thoughts??
Regards,
Fred F.
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