B-25 incident at Jardin Ranch 26 Mar 11

[RyanShort1]

And not one photograph of this B-25 with a broken nose gear?? if it isn't on video, or on a still Photograph, like the government says, it didn't happen.

Yeah, I've seen pictures, and know someone who was on board, but you have to admire a group that can hold themselves to not blab... and this time I know my info is solid.

Ryan

[Invader26]

what's the big deal either way?

[the330thbg]

And not one photograph of this B-25 with a broken nose gear?? if it isn't on video, or on a still Photograph, like the government says, it didn't happen.

Yeah, I've seen pictures, and know someone who was on board, but you have to admire a group that can hold themselves to not blab... and this time I know my info is solid.

Ryan

Yah, Ryan, you were made the scapegoat messenger on 'their' prior incident.

Sorry about that!

[Nathan]

Confusing wix thread of the week

[Fearless Tower]

FWIW, NTSB report is out:

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief ... 3624&key=1

From the report:

The pilot and co-pilot provided written statements that the co-pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear handle at about 60 knots airspeed during the take-off roll. The landing gear then began to retract and the airplane settled onto the runway surface and slid to a stop.

For those that have flown the B-25...discuss....

[Ken]

Qualifier: I've flown B-25s SIC a few times but I don't have a type rating. See this photo from the MAAM website:

http://www.maam.org/airshow/images/b25_flapgear.jpg

This is on the floor between the pilot seats. In the photo, the flap handle is black with a yellow latch. The handle stays in a neutral position, push forward for less flap, push aft for more, and return to neutral once the desired setting is reached.

The gear handle is red. The silver hook is a safety catch to prevent inadvertent raising of the gear. The safety catch is disengaged first, the small red handle is moved second, then the large handle is moved up for "gear up". The process is reversed to lower the gear. The motions of one of these levers is unlike the other.

I'm not a B-25 expert (and if I misspoke above, someone please correct me) but I do have a substantial amount of multi-engine time. I'm simply wondering why any handle was being moved at 60 KIAS on takeoff roll (according to NTSB), particularly without being commanded by the pilot flying.

That said, we all make mistakes, me included. I'm just glad no one was injured.

Ken

[Invader26]

I have a B-25 type rating and flew mine for many years.

As stated the gear handle is between the seats at the back of the cockpit floor.

Because of the high single engine safety speed there is a propensity for pilots to want to clean her up real quick in case of an engine failure on take-off. Frankly the gear should not be moved until a positive rate has been established. The aircraft will accelerate quickly enough except under the dire circumstance of actually losing the engine around rotate/lift-off in which case other actions such as closing the throttles and landing straight ahead MAY be an option.

Act in haste and repent at leisure.

[RyanShort1]

And the NTSB confirms what I was told. Sad deal. One of the guys I know from that outfit will hopefully get typed in the '25 when it's repaired. This delayed it a bit...

Ryan