PRIVATE PLT OF SMA ACFT MADE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE TO LOW FUEL CAUSED BY UNEXPECTED HIGH HEADWINDS.
Synopsis
PRIVATE PLT OF SMA ACFT MADE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE TO LOW FUEL CAUSED BY UNEXPECTED HIGH HEADWINDS.
Narrative
I BURN A TRUE 4 1/2 PER GALLON BUT IT HAD TAKEN ME A FULL HR FROM HATTERAS TO RODANTHE AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD 1 1/2 HRS WORTH OF FUEL LEFT; I DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG; WAIT OUT THE WINDS AND THEN CONTINUE TO MANTEO. ALL WENT WELL. I SELECTED AN EMPTY ROAD WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OF NOTE; CLRED THE TELEPHONE POLES AND WIRES; EASED DOWN ONTO THE ROAD IN A QUARTERING XWIND. I HAD SLOWED TO 30 OR LESS WHEN A GUST LIFTED MY L WING. I REACTED PERHAPS TOO QUICKLY AND GAVE IT L AILERON. THIS BROUGHT THE WING DOWN BUT SINCE I WAS ON ROLLOUT AND ALREADY ON THE DECK; THE STEERABLE NOSEWHEEL TURNED ME L INTO SOME SCRUB CEDAR BUSHES. THE LEADING EDGES WERE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED BUT NO OTHER HARM. I PUSHED IT BACK ACROSS THE ROAD; 1 COUPLE WHO CAME UP SAID THEY HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME ALONG THE BEACH ROAD AND THAT SOMETIMES AT BEST I WAS MAKING 45 MPH GND SPD. THE PLANE RAN UP SMOOTHLY AND THE NEXT DAY I WANTED TO FLY IT HOME BUT A MECH SUGGESTED WE TAKE THE WINGS OFF; TRAIL IT BACK; AND REPAIR IT HERE IN MANTEO. THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS WE CAN LEARN OR TELL OTHERS OF THIS INCIDENT SO THEY MIGHT BE AWARE OF A PITFALL. I HAVE ALMOST 2500 HRS FLYING TIME WHEREAS OF THAT LESS THAN 110 ARE IN SMAS. MY HABITS AND REFLEXES IN THE SUDDEN GUST SITUATION REVERTED TO A PERHAPS TOO INSTANTANEOUS REACTION FROM TRAINING AND HABIT TO GET THAT L WING DOWN. I HAVE LANDED MANY TIMES XWIND IN THE SMA BUT NEVER IN QUITE AS MUCH WIND. I DID NOT WANT TO BE FLIPPED ON MY BACK OR HAVE A WING TIP DAMAGED IF SHE WAS LIFTED TOO HIGH.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.