<< >> NASA ASRS Report 114296, June 1989

Military training flight had unsafe gear indication. Requested cancellation of IFR flight plan to fly over water and try to correct problem.

Attributes
ACN	114296
Time
Date	198906
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rzs
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Experimental
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	114296
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending for landing with an unsafe gear situation, we asked for cancellation of IFR clearance to go over water to check gear and perform procedures. Cleared to descend to 11,000. Did not get clearance. Controller had to coordination with traffic/approach. Confusion existed as to whether we had cancelled or still waiting. Copilot working ATC, pilot went to approximately 10,600 then climbed immediately to 11,000 until cancellation confirmed, handed to point mugu approach, los angeles center aware of gear problem. Eventually resolved malfunction with uneventful landing. Descending below 11,000 F/east saw VFR light plane traffic at 9-10 O'clock probably 10,500 within 2 mi. Closed to 1/2 mi. ATC never mentioned, never called altitude bust or traffic. In retrospect, copilot should have been flying, allowing me to work the irregular procedure discussion, coordination with home base, etc. We did have an extra traffic watch observer in cockpit. All 4 crew members on ATC frequency had some confusion whether we had asked for IFR cancellation or actually cancelled and preparing to switch transponder code to 1700.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MILITARY TRAINING FLT HAD UNSAFE GEAR INDICATION. REQUESTED CANCELLATION OF IFR FLT PLAN TO FLY OVER WATER AND TRY TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

Narrative: DESCENDING FOR LNDG WITH AN UNSAFE GEAR SITUATION, WE ASKED FOR CANCELLATION OF IFR CLRNC TO GO OVER WATER TO CHECK GEAR AND PERFORM PROCS. CLRED TO DSND TO 11,000. DID NOT GET CLRNC. CTLR HAD TO COORD WITH TFC/APCH. CONFUSION EXISTED AS TO WHETHER WE HAD CANCELLED OR STILL WAITING. COPLT WORKING ATC, PLT WENT TO APPROX 10,600 THEN CLIMBED IMMEDIATELY TO 11,000 UNTIL CANCELLATION CONFIRMED, HANDED TO POINT MUGU APCH, LOS ANGELES CENTER AWARE OF GEAR PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY RESOLVED MALFUNCTION WITH UNEVENTFUL LNDG. DESCENDING BELOW 11,000 F/E SAW VFR LIGHT PLANE TFC AT 9-10 O'CLOCK PROBABLY 10,500 WITHIN 2 MI. CLOSED TO 1/2 MI. ATC NEVER MENTIONED, NEVER CALLED ALT BUST OR TFC. IN RETROSPECT, COPLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING, ALLOWING ME TO WORK THE IRREGULAR PROC DISCUSSION, COORD WITH HOME BASE, ETC. WE DID HAVE AN EXTRA TFC WATCH OBSERVER IN COCKPIT. ALL 4 CREW MEMBERS ON ATC FREQ HAD SOME CONFUSION WHETHER WE HAD ASKED FOR IFR CANCELLATION OR ACTUALLY CANCELLED AND PREPARING TO SWITCH XPONDER CODE TO 1700.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.