LSA SUFFERS LOSS OF PROPELLER AND FORCED LANDING.
Synopsis
LSA SUFFERS LOSS OF PROPELLER AND FORCED LANDING.
Narrative
I RECENTLY ACQUIRED TITLE TO A NEW 2006 CARBON COMPOSITE STINGSPORT ACFT. APPROX 3 DAYS OF FLT INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROVIDED BY MY CFI AS I AM A STUDENT PLT. I DEPARTED MWC NBOUND TO AN ASSIGNED PRACTICE AREA. AFTER EXECUTING A SERIES OF FLT MANEUVERS AT APPROX 3000 FT MSL (2200 FT AGL); THE 3 BLADE WOODCOMP TYPE SR200 PROP DEPARTED THE ACFT. JUST PRIOR TO SEPARATION THE ACFT ACTED ERRATICALLY WITH SHORT INTENSE JERKING MOVEMENTS IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS; THEN SMOOTH FLT. I MUST HAVE PULLED THE THROTTLE TO FULL IDLE; BECAUSE I REMEMBER ADVANCING THE THROTTLE SLOWLY ABOUT 1 INCH; SLIGHTLY SPOOLING UP THE ENG; UNAWARE THE PROP WAS GONE. IGNORANCE HAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT SOME INTERNAL PLATE OR GEAR SLIPPAGE OCCURRED AND THE PROP WAS WIND-MILLING. SCANNING THE INSTS; THE VSI INDICATED A 500 FPM DSCNT RATE. I COMMENCED SCANNING THE WHEAT; CORN AND SOYBEAN FIELDS AND FINALLY SELECTED A RECTANGULAR GREEN APPEARING FIELD AND STARTED A LONG DSNDING FINAL. AT SOME POINT; WITH NO REFS; I REALIZED MY LNDG POINT WAS RAPIDLY MOVING AND THIS FIELD WILL SOON PASS ME. I KICKED IN A SLIP OF ALL SLIPS; STRAIGHTENED IT OUT AT THE PRECISE MOMENT AND ON TOUCHDOWN WENT FOR THE BEST ROLLER COASTER RIDE IN MY LIFE. I LANDED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD WITH A CROP OF APPROX 10 INCHES TO 12 INCHES HIGH WITH ROLLING TOPOGRAPHY. I TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE TOP OF ONE OF THOSE HILLS AND DID NOT PORPOISE AND MAINTAINED FULL AFT ELEVATOR CTL DURING THE UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN GND ROLL. FORTUNATELY THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE SOIL WAS FAIRLY LOW; PROVIDING VERY GOOD CONCENTRATED LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY AT THE POINT OF WHEEL CONTACT. I STOPPED PRECISELY IN THE CTR OF THE FIELD AND PARALLEL WITH THE COUNTY ROAD. I COULD OBSERVE THAT NO VEHICLES WERE IN MY FIELD OF VIEW. I SHUT DOWN ALL SYS FROM R TO L AND OPENED THE CANOPY. 3 BICYCLISTS ARRIVED AND HELPED ME ROLL THE ACFT NEXT TO A MACHINE BUILDING; WHICH THE FARMER ALLOWED. I CALLED MY CFI VIA CELL PHONE WHO WAS SITTING IN A C172 DOING A RUN-UP WITH A STUDENT. HE CANCELED THE LESSON AND SOON THEREAFTER ARRIVED AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE ACFT FOR ANY DAMAGE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY WHATSOEVER. MY CFI'S CONSISTENT EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING METHODOLOGY PROVIDED ME WITH THE COMPOSURE TO FLY THE ACFT HELL OR HIGH WATER.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.