[simpits-tech] don't golf on an AFB

[John P. Miguez]

Well, I don't have that many stories, so you may have heard this already.
Sometimes flying really is hours of boredom followed by moments of terror.



The RF4-C had just gone through the depot for a major refit on the wings.  I
dropped off one bird and picked up another.  Because I was flying back to
South Carolina I had a full fuel load, including a center line tank.



We took off and raised the gear and flaps.  Within a few seconds the master
caution light came on and the anunceiator panel lit up like a Christmas
tree.  The F4 diverts exhaust air over the leading edges of the wings for
boundary layer control in slow-hi attitude flight.  There is a valve that is
supposed to open and close with the gear and leading edge slats.  Well the
valve didn't close, dumping 800 degree air into the right wing.



Upon realizing what happened (that is why they drill you on emergency
procedures so much) I slapped down the gear handle and declared an
emergency.  A BLC bleed air leak is a serious emergency.  There was no
telling what was happening in the wing.  The sensors and wires are quickly
burnt up in 800 degrees not allowing you to monitor anything further.



We were diverted over the Great Salt Lake in the event we had to punch out.
We accessed (this is where it is nice to have a co-pilot in the back) the
situation and decided that with the gear down and the hot air being dumped,
the emergency was stabilized.  We still needed to land ASAP.  However, we
were too heavy.  Dumping fuel would take too long.



The SOF (Supervisor of Flying), backseater and I decided that if we dropped
the centerline tank by time we got back to Hill we would be just under the
heavyweight landing limit.



I did a 180 to check for boats, and punched off the tank.  I never saw it
but the backseater watched it fall into the lake.  We calculated the
approach to be about 220 knots and touchdown around 180.  At that speed I
was concerned with the arrestor cable breaking.  If that happened it could
cause the airplane to run off the runway.  But, we were too heavy for brakes
and drag chute, so it was the cable.



There is something about landing with an emergency.  You become damn good
all you senses are wording overtime.  The approach and touchdown were
picture perfect.  The wheels hit about 300 feet short of the cable, nose
gear came down and we got a good catch.  The cable held.  Within 1000 feet
we were stopped and the fire trucks were waiting.  You should have seen the
inside of that wing.  It was a mess.



John



----- Original Message -----
From: "Roy Coates" <roy@flightlab.liv.ac.uk>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] don't golf on an AFB


> On Fri, 18 Jul 2003, Justin Messenger wrote:
>
> >
> > Ok John,
> >
> > I want to hear the story!
> >
>
> I was thinking that myself.
>
> fess up!
>
>
> Roy.
>
>
>