Mustang belly lands at Point Cook....NNNNOOOOOOoooooo :'(

[gibbo_335]

   I can't believe it  !!!!    At least it is repairable 


As most Aussie aviation enthusiasts know, VH-BOB (CAC CA-18 Mk.21 Mustang) had a wheels up landing on Saturday afternoon at Point Cook (Victoria) after the failure of one of the "Clam Shell" inner Main Landing Gear (MLG) doors prevented the MLG from being lowered.  There is an emergency procedure to lower the gear; however due to the way the RH inner door failed, this prevented this procedure from being enacted. 

As can be seen from the attached photos, taken by one of the CFA members, the RH door is hanging down.  It should be fully closed!

Despite repeated attempts by the pilot, including inverted negative G manoeuvres, to depressurise the main hydraulic system thereby unlatching the "Clam Shell" inner doors, he was unable to do so.  With the Clam Shell doors unlatched, the pilot would then normally select "MLG Down" and the gear will free fall and lock into place.  Obviously this did not take place.

The quick initial damage assessment is:
Engine bulk strip / overhaul ( approx $150,000.00 AUD),
New prop - (Approx $100,000.00 AUD),
New radiator scoop and associated equipment,
New radiator scoop support structure (called the "Dog Box"),
RH flap rebuild,
LH flap rebuild,
RH Clam Shell door rebuild.

This does not include all the NDI inspections of structure, etc.

It is the intention of the owner the "BOB" will be repaired as soon as practically possible.

In addition to the above, some of you may not know that the RAAF Museum's Mustang A68-170 also had a wheels up landing in 1954 at RAAF Base Williamtown (total engine failure at 500 feet in the circuit).  It was also rebuilt and put back into service.

[gibbo_335]

Found VIDEO of it!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KishzUtX2H0&feature=related

  John Dorward  YOU ROK MATE!!! 

[FlyboyGil]

Just as long as they don't turn it into a car! 

[AirScorp]

Just a bit of thought.. I know that with a two blade prop you can try to stop the engine with the prop horizontal (Whiskered or something I think it's called) so you save the engine the shock of having to smash it on the ground..
Do you think that would have made any sense with this mustang?

[Oddball]

aye john dorward done a great bit of flying there and had a passenger too 

[Fabo]

Just a bit of thought.. I know that with a two blade prop you can try to stop the engine with the prop horizontal (Whiskered or something I think it's called) so you save the engine the shock of having to smash it on the ground..
Do you think that would have made any sense with this mustang?

Hardly... it has 4 blade prop, and that means that there will always be at least one blade hitting ground.

You could have seen this procedure done with gear-up in Swansea recently.

[Rooster Cruiser]

Just a bit of thought.. I know that with a two blade prop you can try to stop the engine with the prop horizontal (Whiskered or something I think it's called) so you save the engine the shock of having to smash it on the ground..
Do you think that would have made any sense with this mustang?

A Mustang is a very high performance airplane, and without power it has the glide angle of a crowbar.  Intentionally shutting down the engine and then performing a dead-stick landing would be a dicey proposition at best and could easily prove fatal.  Better to sacrifice the engine and prop blades and belly it in with power, which is what he did.  His only other option would have been to hit the "silk elevator" and sacrifice the entire airplane.

This guy did a fine job.  The airplane is repairable.   

[PiperGirl]

That's sad... Poor Mustang! At least it can be repaired (a few $K later)

[AirScorp]

A Mustang is a very high performance airplane, and without power it has the glide angle of a crowbar.  Intentionally shutting down the engine and then performing a dead-stick landing would be a dicey proposition at best and could easily prove fatal.  Better to sacrifice the engine and prop blades and belly it in with power, which is what he did.  His only other option would have been to hit the "silk elevator" and sacrifice the entire airplane.

This guy did a fine job.  The airplane is repairable.   

No doubt about it! Thanks for the expanation! That's what I was looking for anyway, the "why" this was necessary because I already knew it was!

Hardly... it has 4 blade prop, and that means that there will always be at least one blade hitting ground.

You could have seen this procedure done with gear-up in Swansea recently.

That's why I asked, my limited knowledge would only take me that far!

[RagDragger]

Ouch.  Well, a good landing if he lived, right?

[chuckar101]

They just had the douse the thing with all that foam there at the end.  Just keep racking up the dollars.