A C150 INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT MADE AN EMER LNDG ON THE BEACH 6 NM S OF JZI.
Synopsis
A C150 INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT MADE AN EMER LNDG ON THE BEACH 6 NM S OF JZI.
Narrative
WE (THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR) DEPARTED CHARLESTON EXECUTIVE ARPT ON RWY 22; TO THE S; FOR AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. WE PERFORMED GND REF MANEUVERS AT 1000 FT; APPROX 5 OR 6 MI S OF ARPT OVER SECTION OF A BEACH THAT WAS SPARSELY POPULATED. WE COMPLETED 3 TURNS AROUND A POINT; TO L AND TO R; WITHOUT INCIDENT. WE WERE APPROX 30 MINS INTO THE FLT; AND HAD BEGUN S-TURNS WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR; DROPPING TO ABOUT 1700-1800 RPM'S. WE ATTEMPTED CARB HEAT; CHKED FUEL; MAGNETOS; MIXTURE AND THROTTLE WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. WE HAD LOST APPROX 300 FT (NOW ABOUT 700 FT MSL AND AGL) AND IT WAS APPARENT WE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT NOR RETURN TO ARPT. OUR DSCNT RATE WAS APPROX 400 FPM. THEREFORE; WE DECIDED TO MAKE AN EMER; OFF-FIELD LNDG. WE WERE ALREADY IN COMS WITH CHARLESTON EXECUTIVE ARPT TFC AND UNICOM ON CTAF FREQ WITH NUMEROUS TFC IN PATTERN; SO WE RPTED THE EMER SIT ON THIS FREQ. IN LOOKING AROUND FOR A SUITABLE LNDG SITE; WE SELECTED AN UNOCCUPIED STRETCH OF THE BEACH AREA THAT WAS MOST NEARLY INTO THE WIND AND PRESENTED NO HAZARD TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON THE GND. ON FINAL APCH; FULL FLAPS WERE DEPLOYED; MIXTURE AND FUEL AND THROTTLE WERE SECURED; DOORS WERE PROPPED OPEN; AND MAGNETOS WERE SHUT OFF. LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED USING SOFT FIELD PROCS; ON THE AREA OF BEACH NOT IN THE TIDAL ZONE. AFTER THE ACFT SLOWED; THE NOSEWHEEL LOWERED TO GND AND BOGGED DOWN IN SAND; COLLAPSING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. MASTER SWITCH HAD BEEN LEFT ON FOR RADIO AND FLAPS. THE STUDENT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH CRM; ASSISTING WITH ITEMS ON THE EMER LNDG CHKLIST; SUCH AS FUEL VALVE; DOORS; MAGNETOS; ETC. THE ACFT HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY PRE-FLTED; FULL FUEL; STRAINED; ETC; AND WAS WITHIN 100 HR OF ANNUAL INSPECTIONS. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED ENG PWR LOSS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.