 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
General aviation pilot in the pattern at 4b9 reported a loss of control after a wake turbulence encounter with a B737 inbound to bdl.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1364347 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201606 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | 4B9.Airport |
| State Reference | CT |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 1415 Flight Crew Type 15 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter |
| Miss Distance | Horizontal 1000 Vertical 800 |
Narrative:
I was on crosswind for landing on runway 21 at simsbury airport (4b9) at 1200 ft MSL; my heading approximately 120 degrees. I was monitoring/talking on the airport frequency of 122.7. My position was about overhead of the departure end of runway 21. Just as I was about to turn onto downwind; a 737 suddenly appeared to my right. It was on a heading approximately parallel to my flight path; probably on a left downwind for runway 6 at bdl. I estimate it was 800 ft above me and about 1000 ft to my right. He was in landing configuration; with flaps and gear down. Due to his much greater airspeed; he quickly passed me. I was then suddenly struck by three separate 'hits' of wake turbulence; probably two seconds apart. The first rolled me to the left; well past 90 degrees of roll. Best guess would be 120 degrees. I was headed towards being full inverted; but was able to right the aircraft. I was immediately hit again and rolled about 90 degrees to the right. Again; I righted myself. Then came a hit as if from above: the aircraft was slammed downward; and I hit my head on the canopy even though wearing a shoulder harness; my headset was ripped off; and charts and other materials were blown around the cockpit.I have been based at 4b9 for [decades]. I have never seen an airliner vectored anywhere this close to our traffic pattern. I can only assume that the 737 was being vectored by bdl ATC. If this happens again; an aircraft in the pattern at 4b9 would be helpless to avoid wake turbulence. The approaching airliner would not be visible until the last moment; so evasive action would be virtually impossible. The light aircraft in the 4b9 traffic pattern would be in a highly vulnerable low-and-slow position. This incident could have been avoided if ATC had simply vectored the 737 south of 4b9; or via the bdl ILS 6 approach path; as usual.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: General aviation pilot in the pattern at 4B9 reported a loss of control after a wake turbulence encounter with a B737 inbound to BDL.
Narrative: I was on crosswind for landing on runway 21 at Simsbury Airport (4B9) at 1200 ft MSL; my heading approximately 120 degrees. I was monitoring/talking on the airport frequency of 122.7. My position was about overhead of the departure end of runway 21. Just as I was about to turn onto downwind; a 737 suddenly appeared to my right. It was on a heading approximately parallel to my flight path; probably on a left downwind for runway 6 at BDL. I estimate it was 800 ft above me and about 1000 ft to my right. He was in landing configuration; with flaps and gear down. Due to his much greater airspeed; he quickly passed me. I was then suddenly struck by three separate 'hits' of wake turbulence; probably two seconds apart. The first rolled me to the left; well past 90 degrees of roll. Best guess would be 120 degrees. I was headed towards being full inverted; but was able to right the aircraft. I was immediately hit again and rolled about 90 degrees to the right. Again; I righted myself. Then came a hit as if from above: the aircraft was slammed downward; and I hit my head on the canopy even though wearing a shoulder harness; my headset was ripped off; and charts and other materials were blown around the cockpit.I have been based at 4B9 for [decades]. I have never seen an airliner vectored anywhere this close to our traffic pattern. I can only assume that the 737 was being vectored by BDL ATC. If this happens again; an aircraft in the pattern at 4B9 would be helpless to avoid wake turbulence. The approaching airliner would not be visible until the last moment; so evasive action would be virtually impossible. The light aircraft in the 4B9 traffic pattern would be in a highly vulnerable low-and-slow position. This incident could have been avoided if ATC had simply vectored the 737 south of 4B9; or via the BDL ILS 6 approach path; as usual.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.