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Pilot of low wing retractable single engine aircraft encounters a rapid loss of altitude when entering an area of storms.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 670868 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200508 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : flo.airport |
| State Reference | SC |
| Altitude | msl single value : 9000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Turbulence Rain |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : chs.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : corporate |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1500 |
| ASRS Report | 670868 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : regained aircraft control |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Weather Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
En route from west palm beach to charlotte; nc; we circumnaved several storms that we saw visually; on our storm scope; and on ATC radar. We had just finished going around a storm over chs. Chs approach said it looked clear ahead and cleared us direct to charlotte. Shortly thereafter; we flew into an area of moderate rain -- no turbulence; just rain. Without warning; we suddenly started descending very rapidly. We lost 5000 ft in about 30 seconds -- 10000 FPM rate of descent. Vne in this airplane is 196 KTS and the airspeed indicator was pegged at the high end (over 200 KTS). The gear limit speed is 153 KTS and I dropped the gear to help slow down. With a vernier throttle; I was not able to reduce power to slow further. The landing gear circuit breaker apparently popped as the gear doors opened. This was actually good; as it protected the gear doors. I got the airplane under control; observed the 'gear in transit' light; reset the circuit breaker; and got the gear down with 3 green lights. We diverted to flo and got the airplane inspected; including a gear swing. No damage to airframe or landing gear. Continued on to charlotte.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF LOW WING RETRACTABLE SINGLE ENG ACFT ENCOUNTERS A RAPID LOSS OF ALT WHEN ENTERING AN AREA OF STORMS.
Narrative: ENRTE FROM WEST PALM BEACH TO CHARLOTTE; NC; WE CIRCUMNAVED SEVERAL STORMS THAT WE SAW VISUALLY; ON OUR STORM SCOPE; AND ON ATC RADAR. WE HAD JUST FINISHED GOING AROUND A STORM OVER CHS. CHS APCH SAID IT LOOKED CLR AHEAD AND CLRED US DIRECT TO CHARLOTTE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; WE FLEW INTO AN AREA OF MODERATE RAIN -- NO TURB; JUST RAIN. WITHOUT WARNING; WE SUDDENLY STARTED DSNDING VERY RAPIDLY. WE LOST 5000 FT IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS -- 10000 FPM RATE OF DSCNT. VNE IN THIS AIRPLANE IS 196 KTS AND THE AIRSPD INDICATOR WAS PEGGED AT THE HIGH END (OVER 200 KTS). THE GEAR LIMIT SPD IS 153 KTS AND I DROPPED THE GEAR TO HELP SLOW DOWN. WITH A VERNIER THROTTLE; I WAS NOT ABLE TO REDUCE PWR TO SLOW FURTHER. THE LNDG GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER APPARENTLY POPPED AS THE GEAR DOORS OPENED. THIS WAS ACTUALLY GOOD; AS IT PROTECTED THE GEAR DOORS. I GOT THE AIRPLANE UNDER CTL; OBSERVED THE 'GEAR IN TRANSIT' LIGHT; RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKER; AND GOT THE GEAR DOWN WITH 3 GREEN LIGHTS. WE DIVERTED TO FLO AND GOT THE AIRPLANE INSPECTED; INCLUDING A GEAR SWING. NO DAMAGE TO AIRFRAME OR LNDG GEAR. CONTINUED ON TO CHARLOTTE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.