Aero-Tips!
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Aero-Tips 10.15.06
We've been reviewing the FAA's list of the Top 10 causes of
pilot-error accidents. Second on their list is failure to attain or
maintain flying speed, and yesterday we concentrated on speeds for
takeoff and initial climb. Today we'll look at another component of
airspeed control: landing speed.
Landing speed
Even more critical to safety than takeoff speed, it's vital to
be on speed for landing. While on takeoff you can usually abort on
the runway (if you catch the airspeed deficiency soon enough), on
landing you have no choice but to fly, either up or down. Airspeed
must be precise on landing because:
- Too much speed may result in a runway overshoot, and
- Too little airspeed can result in a stall short or the
runway.
Here's the pitch
As we said yesterday,
performance is a function of power and pitch attitude. With power
at or near idle, there's a pitch attitude that results in the
proper final approach airspeed. Note that the airplane needs to be
in proper configuration (flaps, landing gear as appropriate);
airspeed resulting from the expected pitch attitude, in fact,
serves as a good crosscheck for aircraft configuration.
Use the "book" final approach speeds unless conditions warrant
otherwise. It's commonly accepted that final approach speed should
be increased in gusty winds, but one-half the "gust value". For
example, if the wind is at 15 gusting to 25 knots there is a
10-knot gust value, so final approach speed should be increased
about five knots to provide a cushion above stall should the
headwind go away while you're close to the ground.
Stall on final approach
From the NTSB:
The airplane stalled on short final, impacted the runway's
displaced threshold in a nose low pitch attitude and erupted in
flames. The airplane was on final approach and the pilot was
conducting a full-flap landing. He reported that everything was
fine, but the airplane began descending too fast. He applied some
power to go-around, but the airplane encountered a gust of wind and
stalled on short final. Witnesses at the airport observed the
airplane on short final. The nose pitched up to a level position
about 50 feet above the ground and then nosed down until impact
with the ground. The weather observation facility at the airport
was reporting the wind at 7 knots down the runway
Aero-tip of the day: To avoid this common cause
of aviation mishaps, failure to attain or maintain flying speed,
know the airplane's landing speed and configuration and the proper
pitch attitude for final approach. Be ready to go around if
needed.