Return to Flight

[gmascelli]

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip

That started from this ocean town aboard this Commander air ship.

Thursday 11/6

My return to the air after three months could not be without issue. I decided to give the wrist a try and with that tugged 3 Tango Charlie out on the ramp. With a thorough preflight completed I climbed aboard. Granted, I could not use my left hand for a grip and pull on the door opening for the initial try. I did use a step stool and that helped. I flowed through the checklist and with just a couple of blades and my Commander roared to life.

I decided to really work the flight controls and test the wrist, everything was perfect. I did multiple run-ups and a fast taxi, I was ready. Now I wait on a day with less wind gusts.

Friday 11/7

Today is our Anniversary, time to celebrate. Somehow my bride has put up with me for 21 years, what a saint.

Celebration will have to wait, I’m headed to the airport. Once again 3 Tango Charlie was exposed to fresh air and sunshine. Today she started in just two blades. I taxied to Runway two-zero and completed my run up. Was I nervous? You bet!

Departure brief completed and take off power set. Gauges all green and airspeed alive; 50, 65, 70 knots rotate. Everything felt right, at least for a few seconds. I retracted the gear doing the mental count that should be stowed by 12 seconds. My count continued, 13,14 not good, I selected gear down. The in transit light went out and the panel showed three green as smoke started to enter the cabin. All gauges were green and the smoke was soon gone, it didn’t smell like motor oil.

I remained in the pattern making one lowpass to confirm gear down with the help of OC’s line guy. The second pass was a full stop landing that I somehow greased.

I had an A&P give everything a look and he confirmed it was hydraulic fluid from the gear and it was from a line attached to the E-Dump valve. The pump reservoir was refilled and the breaker pulled.

Saturday 11/8

With gear down and locked and the pump breaker pulled, I departed ocean city and flew to the shop for service. 3 Tango Charlie flew perfect. I made a “it’ll fly again landing” and secured the plane for service.

Just another mark on the is it time to sell tally sheet. The sale of the plane will pay for a place in Florida but then I'll be stuck driving or flying commercial. Airplane ownership is overwhelming at times but I still love being in the air.

I'm not posting this on my blog or posting a YouTube video. I just wanted to share with my COG friends and fellow pilots. Thanks for reading along and giving me time to vent.

Be Well!

 

[wab003]

Glad you are safe Gary. Perhaps the fact that you handled the unexpected event so adroitly should add a tic mark to the “I’m still sharp enough to fly” side of the sheet?

 

[sshore]

Gary - you are a hell of a pilot. Don't stop now!

 

[gmascelli]

Thanks, but I still believe a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.

It was like getting punched in the face and I just needed to react, protect myself. I hope to have 3 Tango Charlie home this weekend, with an uneventful flight.

 

[gmascelli]

This is the line that leaked. The hydraulic line (8) had a brake line crossing and it obviously caused the eventual hole.

 

[wab003]

Sometimes "stuff" just happens. Was flying into AVL many years ago (in 3TC no less) with a previously announced landing gear issue (nose actuator cap had an o-ring rupture on the gear up pressure side and gradually pumped out available 5606... happened enroute). So gear was permanently down for about 30% of flight. About 100' up from landing touchdown, Tower comes on freq with an immediate "go around". Not knowing the reason, we lumbered back into the air and went around with our gear down. Inquiring (politely) about the cause, since they knew our gear problem, the Tower advised that it was their first day using the relocated runway and tower staff was experiencing some parallax view issues. They thought I might be trying to land on the new taxiway (I was not so aligned). Apparently, some commercial bird had tried the SPT earlier in the day. Tower apologized; but not having the ability to go gear up (on top of the uncertainty of an, at the time, unknown gear issue) was "distracting". Sometimes, stuff just happens,...

 

[wab003]

While they were in there, did you happen to have them renew the o-rings in the dump valve? Might be a convenient opportunity.

 

[gmascelli]

While they were in there, did you happen to have them renew the o-rings in the dump valve? Might be a convenient opportunity.

I did not even think about it. I know they’re waiting on the part so I can call and ask to have it done.

 

[gmascelli]

“Sometimes "stuff" just happens.”

It sure does! I say not too bad for being 50 years old. I wish my body parts held up as well.

 

[farmerandy]

I was looking for a related conversation to join in on. Yesterday morning while retracting the gear, I had an incredible amount of static in my headphones which lasted a few seconds and ended coincident with the cessation of gear movement noise. The nose gear light was extinguished but the mains were indicating down. Cycling the gear switch did nothing. Confirmed the circuit breakers were not popped, cycled them for good measure but nothing in either gear up or down direction; complete silence. Moved the emergency extension handle to extend and nose gear dropped into place, 3 greens landed without issue. The question is since in the down electrical circuit there is a low pressure switch that is one of the 4 ORs to ground and I can’t make pressure, am I safe to fly to my shop the next town over?