Non-towered accident procedure?

[Unregistered]

A few days ago, A Cessna 182 blew a nosewheel on landing on the runway at our airport. My reaction, after hearing it happen and talking to the pilot on the radio, was to grab a handheld and try to find a way to get it off the runway with traffic in the area.

Two local aircraft had taken off just before the 182 landed, one flight instruction one tenant. I called the Manager and he said to call him if there are any problems. We ended up getting the plane off the runway with a forklift.

I am wondering what steps should have been followed according to the regs. I announced that the runway was closed and waved off traffic with the handheld but being in nontowered air space, not everyone has a radio. The trainer came in about 5 minutes after we cleared the runway and had not made a single radio call, although I know he does have a radio.

Should I have called emergency crews/911, FSS? I notified my manager and stated repeatedly on the radio that the runway was temporarily closed to traffic during the recovery of the plane. I saw the plane was fine from a distance and the pilot was calm and knew what was going on. What if aircraft had come in without radios? Should I have had lights or something up? How would calling FSS to temporarily close the airport stopped non-radio traffic from trying to land?

My first experience with an accident and I would like to know what to do next time even though this one seems to have gone relatively well. Thank you.

 

[Clark1961]

A simple flat tire is generally not considered an accident by any of the regulatory agencies. The airport manager may NOTAM the runway closed until the aircraft is removed. Some (many?) airports are prepared for a flat tire and it's no big deal.

Your story is a good reminder that we should always visually clear the runway prior to landing.

 

[Zeldman]

I fly out of a single runway non-towered airport with full length taxi way. When something like this happens we just use the parallel for take off and landings until the runway is cleared.

Since you said the pilot was out and appeared calm, I am guessing there were no injuries and no fire danger.

Sounds like the only other thing you may have done was station people on the ends of the runway waving a very big red flag, and that might not have been seen by some people.

To notify FSS of the temporary closure it takes the person listed with FSS, usually the airport manager, to make the call, otherwise the FSS can't act (officially) on it. And calling flight service probably would not have stopped any inbound aircraft in the time it took to clear the runway.

I watched a twin land on a closed runway at an non towered airport. The airport had two runways and the main one was notam'ed closed, had big white Xs on both ends and had people and equipment on the runway.

On his first call inbound the nice lady at the FBO called and told him that runway was closed. On his turn to downwind, he announced. This time I got on the radio, addressed him by tail number, and said runway 27 is closed at Podunk Airport.


When he announced turning final, I came on again. I called his tail number twice, advised that runway 27 at Podunk Airport is closed, but 18-36 is open. I repeated myself about 5 seconds later, and kept stating that the runway is closed, people and equipment are on the runway, then called the workers to clear out for landing traffic. They were listening and already had cleared the runway leaving their equipment.

The pilot and his family pulled up to the FBO. When he got out he said something like, did we know there are tractors on the runway?

Then the workers showed up. Man, those guys and gal were mad..!!! They let that poor pilot know their thoughts on his abilities and his intelligence and his parental lineage, to say the least. About the time I thought the discussion was about to become physical, the police showed up. Things calmed down.

I told the pilot that the runway was notam'ed as closed, and that we were on the radio trying to warn him. His reply was that he didn't have his headset on because he was talking to his wife and kids....

I had a real helpless feeling as I watched this plane head towards the equipment on the runway and there was not a thing I could do about it.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Should I have called emergency crews/911,

For a flat tire? The last thing anyone needs is a bunch of overreacting cops.

How would calling FSS to temporarily close the airport stopped non-radio traffic from trying to land?

Who closed the runway / airport? Why? Why involve the FSS? It should be obvious to anyone in the pattern that there is an airplane (and other vehicles) sitting on the runway. And, anyone wanting to land is just out of luck. In the unlikely event of an emergency, they can land short, over, on a taxiway, or in the grass.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I watched a twin land on a closed runway at an non towered airport. The airport had two runways and the main one was notam'ed closed, had big white Xs on both ends and had people and equipment on the runway.
...

I had a real helpless feeling as I watched this plane head towards the equipment on the runway and there was not a thing I could not do about it.

You can't fix stupid.

 

[Graueradler]

For events in general. Pretty much overkill for a flat tire.

Check if the pilot needs medical attention and initiate that. If there is a significant fuel spill, get the fire department. If needed, get a NOTAM out and get some one to man the radio. Check the wreck against the NTSB criteria for it being permissible to move. These criteria should be in your emergency procedures manual and you should be somewhat familiar with them. If it exceeds these criteria, you are, by law, not permitted to move it except as required for rescue of the occupants. The NTSB has to release it before it can be moved.

If you can move it, then try to minimize further damage. Don't panic about getting the runway clear. If planes in the air can't get to another airport, they might use the parallel taxiway (if you have one) or, depending on the runway configuration and location of the wreck, they might use another portion of the runway if they meed to badly enough. We also have unofficial grass surfaces that are sometimes used by tail draggers.

A very repairable plane may be totaled by recovery operations and if the damage could have been avoided, the insurance co. may get lawyers involved. Keep the pilot/owner involved in removal method decisions if possible. If he/she blessed the plan, there is less likely hood of later problems. A crane, if needed, can cost a bit so try to get the pilot to order it.

For a nose gear collapse, we have found that an ATV tied to the tail tie down ring has worked well to get the nose off of the ground and move the plane around on the mains.

Don't forget to police the path of the wreck on the runway for FOD

 

[frfly172]

It's a simple flat tire.no report is needed. Keep the 911 people out of it. Most airports have a dolly for that purpose.

 

[KA550]

You can't fix stupid.

Also applies to the first post. Only thing he forgot was to grab his camera in case to report it to the FSDO and to call the FAA Command Center to institute a national ground stop for all departures inbound to the airport. Must just have a BS in Airport Management.

 

[ClimbnSink]

That isn't an accident. If a real accident occurs SOP is to push the wreckage into a hangar before someone like the op trips over it.

 

[Clark1961]

Also applies to the first post.

That's a little cold. How often have you found a kid working the line? We all have to gain experience and learn how things work.

 

[Vance Breese]

That isn't an accident. If a real accident occurs SOP is to push the wreckage into a hangar before someone like the op trips over it.

In my opinion the wreckage of an aircraft accident isn’t supposed to be moved until the board or a representative had granted a release.

 

[MauleSkinner]

The OP doesn't state what he does...mechanic? Flight instructor? Lineman? Aircraft spotter? If the manager he notified wasn't a trucking company dispatcher, the OP should have been able to get answers to most of his questions before taking a forklift to the airplane.

 

[overdrive148]

Also applies to the first post. Only thing he forgot was to grab his camera in case to report it to the FSDO and to call the FAA Command Center to institute a national ground stop for all departures inbound to the airport. Must just have a BS in Airport Management.

Really? What do I have anything to do with this??

 

[James331]

Id say mind your business.

I've been around for two F'ups... strangely at the same airport.

Anywho, first and foremost make sure everyone is OK, render first aid, if qualified and needed, call for EMS if needed, be sure to tell then the condition of the folks so they can bring in the resources needed.

If everyone is walking around and OK, like with situation you described, leave it alone, don't go calling the PD, FAA, FIRE, NTSB, CIA, FBI, etc just because someone blew a tire and some little Unicom field, poor guy is going to have to fix his airplane already, no need to make more trouble for him.

Overall, make sure everyone is ok, then continue on with your day.

 

[Unregistered]

A simple flat tire is generally not considered an accident by any of the regulatory agencies. The airport manager may NOTAM the runway closed until the aircraft is removed. Some (many?) airports are prepared for a flat tire and it's no big deal.

Your story is a good reminder that we should always visually clear the runway prior to landing.

I looked for something to move the plane with and found nothing. The best I could do was a jack and that probably would not have worked. Luckily the forklift guys were still there and gave us a hand. That is what I'm curious about, if I could not move the plane, what would I do? It was close to dusk and the airport was cleared out for the day.

I told the pilot that the runway was notam'ed as closed, and that we were on the radio trying to warn him. His reply was that he didn't have his headset on because he was talking to his wife and kids....

That is what I was afraid of happening. Thank you for sharing.

For a flat tire? The last thing anyone needs is a bunch of overreacting cops.

Who closed the runway / airport? Why? Why involve the FSS? It should be obvious to anyone in the pattern that there is an airplane (and other vehicles) sitting on the runway. And, anyone wanting to land is just out of luck. In the unlikely event of an emergency, they can land short, over, on a taxiway, or in the grass.

The airport was not closed. I did not involve anyone except the local traffic by telling them the runway was blocked. Zeldman's story is proof that even obvious things are not obvious to everyone. I was wondering how to move traffic because I did not know if it was legal or acceptable to tell traffic to land on the grass or on the taxiway because if something happened, if they hit a ditch or something, i would be responsible. The first 1/4 of the runway was where the 182 stopped, landing the other way would have been with a tailwind and it would be unsafe. Landing past would be bad because it would be over the top of the 182. Other than telling traffic the runway is closed, I was out of ideas, and that is why I am asking here.

For events in general. Pretty much overkill for a flat tire.

Check if the pilot needs medical attention and initiate that. If there is a significant fuel spill, get the fire department. If needed, get a NOTAM out and get some one to man the radio. Check the wreck against the NTSB criteria for it being permissible to move. These criteria should be in your emergency procedures manual and you should be somewhat familiar with them. If it exceeds these criteria, you are, by law, not permitted to move it except as required for rescue of the occupants. The NTSB has to release it before it can be moved.

If you can move it, then try to minimize further damage. Don't panic about getting the runway clear. If planes in the air can't get to another airport, they might use the parallel taxiway (if you have one) or, depending on the runway configuration and location of the wreck, they might use another portion of the runway if they meed to badly enough. We also have unofficial grass surfaces that are sometimes used by tail draggers.

A very repairable plane may be totaled by recovery operations and if the damage could have been avoided, the insurance co. may get lawyers involved. Keep the pilot/owner involved in removal method decisions if possible. If he/she blessed the plan, there is less likely hood of later problems. A crane, if needed, can cost a bit so try to get the pilot to order it.

For a nose gear collapse, we have found that an ATV tied to the tail tie down ring has worked well to get the nose off of the ground and move the plane around on the mains.

Don't forget to police the path of the wreck on the runway for FOD

No medical attention, prop strike, fuel spill, or anything luckily. The pilot asked for a tow so I felt comfortable providing it for him since he asked. Specifically how we moved it would be up to his approval.

I dont think there are any approved areas for grass landing here but I am not sure. I felt that there was a sense of panic because the aircraft that took off earlier were going to come back and maybe a few others were inbound that I did not know about.

Great points on insurance and damaging the plane, even greater about the tail towing. I did not think of that at all. I did do a FOD check afterwards to see what flattened his tire but found nothing.

Also applies to the first post. Only thing he forgot was to grab his camera in case to report it to the FSDO and to call the FAA Command Center to institute a national ground stop for all departures inbound to the airport. Must just have a BS in Airport Management.

That isn't an accident. If a real accident occurs SOP is to push the wreckage into a hangar before someone like the op trips over it.

Thanks for the help?

The OP doesn't state what he does...mechanic? Flight instructor? Lineman? Aircraft spotter? If the manager he notified wasn't a trucking company dispatcher, the OP should have been able to get answers to most of his questions before taking a forklift to the airplane.

Field maintenance. The manager told me to handle it, basically. The forklift and pallet under the nose seemed like the best thing to do.

Id say mind your business.

I've been around for two F'ups... strangely at the same airport.

Anywho, first and foremost make sure everyone is OK, render first aid, if qualified and needed, call for EMS if needed, be sure to tell then the condition of the folks so they can bring in the resources needed.

If everyone is walking around and OK, like with situation you described, leave it alone, don't go calling the PD, FAA, FIRE, NTSB, CIA, FBI, etc just because someone blew a tire and some little Unicom field, poor guy is going to have to fix his airplane already, no need to make more trouble for him.

Overall, make sure everyone is ok, then continue on with your day.

It was my business, I was monitoring the unicom at the time? I did not call authorities, but was wondering if I had to becasue there was a blocked runway.

 

[MauleSkinner]

The airport was not closed.

It probably should have been.

Other than telling traffic the runway is closed...

Be careful about your terminology. See above.

I dont think there are any approved areas for grass landing here but I am not sure. I felt that there was a sense of panic because the aircraft that took off earlier were going to come back and maybe a few others were inbound that I did not know about.

That's not your responsibility. The PIC is responsible for where he lands and finding other options as necessary.

Field maintenance. The manager told me to handle it, basically.

The manager opted to shirk responsibility, IMO. As I said, you should have had these answers prior to taking action.

 

[Clark1961]

I looked for something to move the plane with and found nothing. The best I could do was a jack and that probably would not have worked. Luckily the forklift guys were still there and gave us a hand. That is what I'm curious about, if I could not move the plane, what would I do? It was close to dusk and the airport was cleared out for the day.

For a flat tire just use a tug and a towbar to clear the runway. It won't hurt anything. For a nosewheel problem on a light aircraft even a mechanic's creeper will work for a dolly (may need some wood to spread the weight). That said, many FBO's have worked this problem and have a wheeled platform or dolly which can be placed under the bad leg. Heck, I've even seen pick-ups used to clear the aircraft.

If the aircraft really can't be moved then tell the pilot to leave the beacon on and find the yellow X's to close the runway along with notifying the manager to NOTAM the runway closed.

 

[Clark1961]

I felt that there was a sense of panic because the aircraft that took off earlier were going to come back and maybe a few others were inbound that I did not know about.

Never a cause to feel panic. If you feel that, stop, cage your gyros, and step back from the situation. No one has to land there. I've told other pilots to call me and I'll pick them up if they have to divert for weather. This would be a similar circumstance.

Anyway, it gets easier after the first..."okay, so what, we have a broken airplane on the runway, no skin off my teeth"...

 

[Jeff Oslick]

What would be handy in a situation like this (incident close to dusk or at night) is a vehicle with an amber strobe light so it is obvious to approaching pilots there is something up with the runway. If it was getting dark and I was stuck on a runway, if I didn't have something like that available I'd consider calling the PD or FD or city maintenance yard (if a city-owned airport) to get something out there. If there was no risk from a fuel leak or fire I'd probably leave the aircraft lights/strobes on too as long as the battery would last.

 

[DesertNomad]

With a 182 and two people you can push down on the tail to lift the nose wheel off the ground and then push it off the runway on the two (non-flat) tires. This is how my CFI and I moved a 182 off the runway when the nose tire went flat similar to the OP.

 

[skidoo]

With a 182 and two people you can push down on the tail to lift the nose wheel off the ground and then push it off the runway on the two (non-flat) tires. This is how my CFI and I moved a 182 off the runway when the nose tire went flat similar to the OP.

That sounds like a reasonable option... Same thing happened to me a couple years ago. I ran to my hanger and grabbed a compressor, filled the tank with air, and dragged it back to the plane. I pumped air into the tire and was able to taxi for 2 minutes, enough to get it to a hangar. The runway was partially blocked for maybe 5 minutes...

 

[rbridges]

I told the pilot that the runway was notam'ed as closed, and that we were on the radio trying to warn him. His reply was that he didn't have his headset on because he was talking to his wife and kids....

landing is the least complicated part of flying. why pay attention?

 

[MAKG1]

With a 182 and two people you can push down on the tail to lift the nose wheel off the ground and then push it off the runway on the two (non-flat) tires. This is how my CFI and I moved a 182 off the runway when the nose tire went flat similar to the OP.

Be careful what you push on. Some parts of the airplane won't like 400 lb of weight on them. The best spot on a 182 is the reinforcement just forward of the tail. The worst is the elevator surface near the outboard edges, or lifting the prop tips.

 

[Kiddo's Driver]

Something like that happened at my field two weeks ago. I was going on a night flight. We did the run up and checks by my hangar then taxied over to the runway. I was about to call departing when I noticed a car's emergency blinkers on the runway. (I'm at Stearman field, so it is not unusual to see cars on the runway. Or RVs - you know - the 38 foot long diesel pusher kind.) Then I saw a plane with one wheel in the dirt on the side of the runway. A quick radio call confirmed that the runway was fouled and the plane had a flat tire. I pulled across the runway to the fuel pumps to buy some gas while they cleared the runway. By the time I was ready to swipe my card they had it cleared. I think they had a dolly that fit right under the blown tire. they simply lifted the wing, slid the dolly under the tire, and then towed the plane to the maintenance hangar.

A prepared airport with a dolly and a couple of strong backs to clear a light single engine plane with a blown tire off of the runway in under 10 minutes. (It was a high wing Cessna of some type.)

Jim