PRIVATE PLT OF SMA ACFT MADE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE TO LOW FUEL CAUSED BY UNEXPECTED HIGH HEADWINDS.

Date: 1992-10 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear

Anomalies: inflight-event-encounter-weather-turbulence|other-unspecified

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.