http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893 Online perspective from the editors of "AOPA Pilot". Wed, 22 May 2013 00:22:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893&cpage=1#comment-138394 Van Rush Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:40:09 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893#comment-138394 The big lesson here is remember first to fly the plane, then plan the landing. Of course it doesn’t hurt to be aware always of where you are. That saved my bacon once shortly after solo take-off in an Aeronce Chief when the small reinforcerment piece flew off the end of the wooden prop and tdhe imbalance threatened to pull the engine out of the mounts. I was barely over the tree-tops in a thick stand of timber, but I knew there was a big field just beyone if I could make it. Even at idle, the vibration was fierce but I had no choice except to use frequent bursts of powert to stay just clear of the trees. Everything hung together until I had the field made at which point I shut off the engine and at the same time realized too late I was going to touch down in a big drainage ditch perpendicular to my path. I went forward on the control wheel in a thrusting motion and jumped the ditch, barely clearing it. My instructor had been right: “Fly now, pray later.” Congratulations to the l72 pilot.

]]> http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893&cpage=1#comment-132262 Martin Lozano Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:56:45 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893#comment-132262 I am a Mexican and fly a 172. It is amazing that not only did they keep their cool, but cared for every little detail as to prevent every single little harm to both passengers and people on the ground. At some point, passengers even sound thrilled and excited to be going through such an experience…

]]> http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893&cpage=1#comment-131912 Jimmy Hawley Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:46:46 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893#comment-131912 At the very end of the video the crank flange where the prop bolts on is clearly visible. I would guess from this that the prop itself just came apart and separated from the crank. It would be very interesting to examine the prop if it could be found.

]]> http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893&cpage=1#comment-131495 Walt Peters Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:59:30 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=2893#comment-131495 Any insight into why the prop departed the aircraft? Was this a Lycoming O320 with the crankshaft AD. Did the crankshaft fail and the prop plus part of the crankshaft depart the engine/aircraft, or did the prop bolts or prpp hub fail and the prop separate from the crankshaft. If crankshaft failure was the AD complied with and if so were there any notes in the logbook with respect to the crankshaft condiiton at the last AD inspection?

]]>