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| Subject: Low temps | |
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Author: Captain Pulsar |
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Date Posted: Sat, Jan 12 2013, 12:32:32 GMT In reply to: Bob P 's message, "Fogging/Freezing Canopies" on Thu, Jan 10 2013, 23:20:03 GMT Hi Bob. My strip resembles a mud wrestling pit and I cant even taxi, I've never seen it so wet, so no flying for some time I fear. I have had some misting up issues, usually just before take off. I keep a handy window wipe just over my shoulder on the parcel shelf just in case I need a wipe. I have found the screen clears once airborne within a minute or two and remains clear thereafter. Only once have I had a 'moment' in cold weather. A few years back I took off from a very muddy strip with an ambient temperature of around 1 or 2 degsC on the ground. As usual during the take off run I could hear some mud splattering but thought nothing of it. It was a beautiful day and I flew up to around 4500 feet as the air was crystal clear and the flying was great in the crisp dense air. I was starting to get cold so elected to reduce power for a leisurely descent back to base. As I pushed the stick gently forward it seemed to be jammed and would not move forward properly and only provided enough down elevator to get the nose just below the horizon. OMG!!! I was reluctant to push it harder in case something broke. It was a very scary few minutes as I tried to think clearly about what might be causing this stiffness in the stick. I tried to remove the inspection access panel behind the seat to see if anything was visible. It was a worrying few moments as I had to undo the straps to lean away from the seat back. I did manage it but nothing was evident, the elevator drive rod appeared fine. I elected to not move the stick at all except for the bare minimum required to slowly descend and set up for a very shallow approach as I didnt know if I would get enough elevator for a full flare. Luckily, when the time came to flare I had plenty of up elevator available and landed normally. Jeez, that was a relief. I had been reluctant to move the stick as I feared it may jam in a less desirable position, at least where it was I could maintain a steady descent. On exiting the aircraft, and observing that I was visibly shaking violently from my escape from death, I looked over the aircraft to determine the problem. During take off from a muddy strip, a large clod of mud and grass had impacted the slot between the elevator and the stabiliser and had lodged there, there was a lot of mud all over the tailplane. As I had climbed out and spent some time at altitude and temps well below freezing, the mud lump had frozen solid in the elevator gap and as such prevented the elevator from moving down properly. The mud was still frozen several minutes after landing. I removed the mud and everything was back to normal. So, a lesson learned. Its never happened since, but I am mindful of the possibility. I must admit to being scared shitless when it occurred, for a moment I really thought I was about to 'check out'. Thank goodness the Pulsar is such a forgiving aircraft. I just barely used the control at all and floated down using mostly rudder to steer as I couldn't risk using much aileron in case the problem was the control system itself. Something to bear in mind when you fly off a muddy strip into air below freezing!!! Best regards Rob [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Fogging Canopies | Alan | Fri, Jan 25 2013, 16:34:56 GMT |