Hard Landing at Lake Tahoe: Mistakes Made & Lessons Learned

[drdehave]

Hey Folks:

Here's my latest video. I decided to memorialize an incident that I was lucky to walk away from in September 2012--and show what I did wrong (the whole CHAIN of bad decisions) and what I learned. Maybe some of you will find something of value for Your mountain flying adventures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRXPRBa- ... load_owner

And, the PDF down below, summarizes what the event taught me.

Rich

[drseti]

Rich, your candor is very much appreciated (and may help to keep the rest of us from making similar mistakes). Thanks so much for posting.

[AZLEEJAY]

Good on you for sharing your experience.
I enjoy your videos and would like to hear about camera attachment techniques.
Fly safe!
Lee

[FastEddieB]

Wow!

One of the best videos on Critical Decision Making I have ever seen.

Thank you so much.

Like I just posted to another thread, "Confession is good for the soul".

And valuable to others.

The expression goes something like, "Try to learn from the mistakes of others. You will not live long enough to make all of them yourself!"

Thanks again - minor comments/questions to follow...

[CharlieTango]

Rich,

South Lake Tahoe is a frequent destination and sometimes a fuel stop for me. After watching your video and reading your pdf I get the impression that you are constructing a chain of events to explain what happened.

Here is another take. Landing South Lake Tahoe with a 15kt gust factor is intimidating in a light sport due to the confined space, altitude and the shear. Attempting such a landing downwind was 1 of 2 big mistakes, the other was crossing the sierra with damage.

Flying your light sport on the east side is an incremental learning process with spring time winds being one of the biggest concerns. As you go farther south the mountain flying gets more serious but few fields are as dangerous as the one you picked. Your ten lessons learned are all good advice. My advice is to learn light sport aviation in the eastern sierra incrementally. You won't be able to avoid shear and rotors and landing issues totally but when you advance do it in small steps not big leaps.

[drdehave]

Thanks to all for the positive comments! And yes, I agree those were the two biggest mistakes!

As for camera attachment methods, I won't start re-hashing that subject in this thread. You'll find enough detail elsewhere on this site, over at the CT Flier site, and in other videos on my YouTube channel, to exhaust the subject to your delight.--Rich

[FastEddieB]

Two curiosities and one observation...

1) What was hanging from your right main in the reenactment?

2) Does your altimeter always bounce around like that on runup? Most don't, so it strikes me as odd - dynamic pressure hitting your static port or a static line leak into your cabin perhaps?

3) I find hypoxia more of a factor with advancing age. Closing in on 65 now, and a long day even at 7,500 affects me more now than I recall it doing before. I was not aware of those small O2 canisters - I may score a few. I do have a portable 02 setup from my Cirrus, but I have not figured a convenient way to carry it in the Sky Arrow.

[drdehave]

1) What was hanging from your right main in the reenactment?
That is the factory-installed ground wire--supposed to be touching the ground during taxi and at static position.

2) Does your altimeter always bounce around like that on runup? Most don't, so it strikes me as odd
Yes, to varying degrees it does bounce a bit during run-ups. However, in that scence it was about as bad as I've seen it, but there was 10 knots of wind and that seems to exacerabate the run-up fluctuctuation.

3) I find hypoxia more of a factor with advancing age.
Yes, I've been thinking the same. Also, I would imagine the more sedentary one is to sea level, the worse it might be; I hardly ever travel to altitude any more for extended periods. I'm always at sea level except when flying--and I'm closing on 69.

[drseti]

I'm closing on 69.

I guess I can officially call you an old man, Rich - you have a year on me. But I must say that "advancing age" comment of Eddie's really smarts!

[Wm.Ince]

Hey Folks:

Here's my latest video.

Excellent presentation Rich.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I got a lot out of it.

[FastEddieB]

I guess I can officially call you an old man, Rich - you have a year on me. But I must say that "advancing age" comment of Eddie's really smarts!

Some of us are best described as "of advancing age"*.

But for others, would not antediluvian be a bettor descriptor?



*is there any other kind?

[Nomore767]

Rich,

I think your posts are highly commendable.

You come across as a pilot, an airman, an aviator. In a world of glass cockpits, wi-fi, techno, composites, push button, automation, and wonderful gadgets and technology…there is no room for an 'operator'. You still need a 'pilot'.

As humbling as a mea culpa moment of self criticism can be, it can be the best thing for anyone. It's a learning experience, a growing experience. None of us can safely sit on the fence and critics, because we've all been there. We may be there again.
Our egos take a bruising, our self-confidence gets a knock, but the best thing is in the end I think we become better pilots.

Congrats for having the courage to bring your experiences to light for the edification of all of us.

There are old pilots, and bold pilots…but no old, bold pilots.

Thanks!

[drseti]

Howard, I think that should be:

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but the former all fly LSAs.

[drdehave]

Wow! Thanks!

With the game-clock running out fast, if self-deprecation here and there helps add an overtime, count me in!

[Nomore767]

Howard, I think that should be:

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but the former all fly LSAs.

I thought it was only 'fat pilots' that flew LSAs? Now it's old guys too…..?