Yes. Been there, done that twice. Be honest, 'fess up if you messed up. If it was a gear issue like both of ours were, and your paperwork is in order, it's a non-event except for repairs.
Who called the FAA? I didn’t think this was something they get involved with.
Doesn't matter. Once the FAA's been called, dodging makes you look bad.
www.nbcdfw.com
Why in the world would the police be involved in a gear up? Some stole the landing gear? Or maybe the landing gear switch?
Someone says a plane crashed, the police roll up, their "protocol" says to call the FAA. Been there done that, got detained in a field for something like 3 hours after an oil line failure a few years back. Doesn't matter that the plane wasn't damaged in the landing.
So, are you the one taking pictures or the other guy?Our situation where the gear wasn't locked was just over a month ago - the FAA came and looked, and it's being classified as an incident and we're hopefully flying her again on Monday.
Video shows moment small plane makes belly landing at Texas airport
A Cessna burned off fuel and then made a belly landing at Dallas Executive Airport Thursday morning when its landing gear collapsed. No one was injured.
Yes, technically most gear-ups aren't mandatory reporting events, but if the authorities are alerted, the FAA has the authority to come look.
I'm officially the photographer on board, but I did the landing. And, yeah, that was me taking some photos to send to my boss.So, are you the one taking pictures or the other guy?
with the caption "it was like that when I found it...."
If someone calls them. The typical gear up landing is not a reportable event from an NTSB standpoint, but someone often calls in the FAA or NTSB. Obvious is when an airport or runway needs to be NOTAM’d closed while the airplane is removed, but I’ve even seen ramp retractions/collapses called in.
Yes. While the NTSB handles all aircraft incidents and accidents, the local FSDO usually will get a call first.
Could be anyone: airport personnel, law enforcement, concerned public, etc.
Some states have laws to also investigate any aircraft incidents, etc. However, any 911 call will get them there as well and they tend to be the first on the scene.
Maybe it’s a conspiracy!
Nice a approach and landing, though - under the circumstances.So, are you the one taking pictures or the other guy?
Funny, I get the impression from the question that our guest thinks there is some vast conspiracy at work, when all it is in terms of the FAA, local LEO, ambulances, fire trucks, the newspapers and TV stations, etc etc, is that someone called.
Police don't usually get involved. FAA will if someone reports it
Nowadays if anybody other than another pilot sees it a 911 call will be made.
After posting to social media, of course
Really hard to find ANY fault here when there is extremely clear video evidence that the gear WAS extended, we got to see the gear collapse, the landing was made probably close to the stall horn (or maybe with the horn blaring), kept it straight until the very end, and the mixture was pulled pretty much as soon as the mains hit. I see no 709 in your future with all of that going for you!Our situation where the gear wasn't locked was just over a month ago - the FAA came and looked, and it's being classified as an incident and we're hopefully flying her again on Monday.
Video shows moment small plane makes belly landing at Texas airport
A Cessna burned off fuel and then made a belly landing at Dallas Executive Airport Thursday morning when its landing gear collapsed. No one was injured.
Yes, technically most gear-ups aren't mandatory reporting events, but if the authorities are alerted, the FAA has the authority to come look.
Still, even though we could pretty much prove irrefutably that it wasn't a pilot error issue, the FAA did talk to us and wanted to know what caused the incident, and to be honest, I wasn't bothered in the least that they did. If I owned a Cardinal, (and we have three in the company) I'd want to know if there is a recurring mechanical issue that would affect the broader fleet.
Agreed. The guy who sold me my share of our plane sold out because he bought a 177RG, so for his sake, I’d want to know about any recurring issues too. I’m glad you talked to the FAA to help your fellow owners/pilots.
Of course they wanted to know how it happened. Especially if it wasn’t pilot error. Exactly for the reason you say.
Your two stories are not at all unusual. And with a little thought, they both make sense.
In some states, the state troopers are tasked with investigating aviation accidents. Twice in Virginia I've had to sit in a state police car and help an officer who had no idea about aviation fill out his accident report form. The funny one was when one went to the FBO and asked if there was any witnesses and my 8 year old passenger starts pulling on his pant leg and saying he saw it. The cop got down on one knee and took the kid's statement, it was hilarious.
To document the scene as they found it.
Absolutely. Especially from an Airport’s standpoint, I’d want all of the evidence I can get in the event the pilot elects to sue the municipality by claiming the airfield wasn’t safe or somehow contributed to the incident. Not always possible, but it’s good to have as much evidence as possible in a situation like that.
Someone called the FAA when I pranged their runway with my propeller and wingtip in weather too windy to fly. Someone actually inspected the runway for damage! (And said it was fine, thus they wouldn't charge me.)
Pretty sure neither would be local jurisdiction.
Depends. A number of states and municipalities have local laws permitting aircraft accident investigations and the federal rules note this. For example, Ohio has such laws. However, no other agency other than the NTSB are permitted to participate in any probable cause determinations.
