Cessna 401 gear up landing.

MikeD

MikeD

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Staff member
Happened 3 months back at KGKY, pretty textbook landing. 1967 Cessna 401 N3239Q couldn’t get its left landing gear down with either primary or alternate means, and made an efficient gear up landing in RW 16 at GKY. No injuries. Honestly didn’t know any of the Cessna 401 or Cessna 411 series of piston twins were still flying.


View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MyzA6inx2pg&pp=ygUfQXJsaW5ndG9uIHRleGFzIGdlYXIgdXAgbGFuZGluZw%3D%3D



View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=EKoJ2lH-cGA&pp=ygUfQXJsaW5ndG9uIHRleGFzIGdlYXIgdXAgbGFuZGluZw%3D%3D
 
MikeD said:
... Honestly didn’t know any of the Cessna 401 or Cessna 411 series of piston twins were still flying.
…
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My first commercial flying was in a C310 and this C401:


IMG_2648.jpeg



Always liked flying that plane. Looks like her last flight (in FlightAware anyway) was three years ago. :(


(Edit to add: looks like the C310, N5CX, is flying in your neck of the woods @MikeD)
 
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jhugz said:
I still don’t get why people cut engines on a gear up landing. Leave them running and let the insurance company figure it out.
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I'd argue that it might slightly reduce the risk of fire… given the flashpoint of petroleum, I think I take all the help I could get in our regard.

if you're committing to a 10,000 foot runway, I failed to really see the downside. Then again, I haven't flown a light twin in a very, very long time…
 
🦈💜 said:
I'd argue that it might slightly reduce the risk of fire… given the flashpoint of petroleum, I think I take all the help I could get in our regard.

if you're committing to a 10,000 foot runway, I failed to really see the downside. Then again, I haven't flown a light twin in a very, very long time…
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I’d argue that the hunk of metal skidding down concrete is a much bigger risk.

Have the out to do a go around. You never know when you may need it.
 
Not 100% sure, but I think those early models have an electrical gear extension with no backup.
It either works or you have a loud landing.
 
jhugz said:
I still don’t get why people cut engines on a gear up landing. Leave them running and let the insurance company figure it out.
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Mostly unrelated, but for some reason this makes me think of one afternoon working as an FBO lineman, get fuel order for a non-local Mooney. Walk up to the plane, and is readily apparent that the prop tips are bent AF. I presumed a nose gear landing. Anyway, I mentioned it to the owner, and he brushed me off (of course), and proceeded to fire up and depart. Wonder whatever happened to him.......YOLO
 
///AMG said:
Mostly unrelated, but for some reason this makes me think of one afternoon working as an FBO lineman, get fuel order for a non-local Mooney. Walk up to the plane, and is readily apparent that the prop tips are bent AF. I presumed a nose gear landing. Anyway, I mentioned it to the owner, and he brushed me off (of course), and proceeded to fire up and depart. Wonder whatever happened to him.......YOLO
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I do know they did make Q-tip props for some Mooney’s though not widely used.

Either way, even if they were Q-tip props dude could have chosen to not be a douchebag and explained what they were.
 
///AMG said:
Mostly unrelated, but for some reason this makes me think of one afternoon working as an FBO lineman, get fuel order for a non-local Mooney. Walk up to the plane, and is readily apparent that the prop tips are bent AF. I presumed a nose gear landing. Anyway, I mentioned it to the owner, and he brushed me off (of course), and proceeded to fire up and depart. Wonder whatever happened to him.......YOLO
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I had a similar experience as a line guy, but this airplane (I want to say it was a Bonanza) also had a some sort of a ticket from the local FSDO taped to the airplane to inform the owner their airplane had been the subject of a "spot" inspection and had been found unairworthy. As I recall the owner was furious, Q-tip prop, and had a very heated telephone conversation with the FAA folks when he found out and wanted to depart. The FAA approved these props, they should've at least notified the folks out in the field.
 
knot4u said:
I had a similar experience as a line guy, but this airplane (I want to say it was a Bonanza) also had a some sort of a ticket from the local FSDO taped to the airplane to inform the owner their airplane had been the subject of a "spot" inspection and had been found unairworthy. As I recall the owner was furious, Q-tip prop, and had a very heated telephone conversation with the FAA folks when he found out and wanted to depart. The FAA approved these props, they should've at least notified the folks out in the field.
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haha I mean they should at least make these mods look airworthy, or put a big label on the prop :)
 
///AMG said:
Mostly unrelated, but for some reason this makes me think of one afternoon working as an FBO lineman, get fuel order for a non-local Mooney. Walk up to the plane, and is readily apparent that the prop tips are bent AF. I presumed a nose gear landing. Anyway, I mentioned it to the owner, and he brushed me off (of course), and proceeded to fire up and depart. Wonder whatever happened to him.......YOLO
Click to expand...
Old (80's era) - Q-Tips on a Mooney.
 
jhugz said:
I still don’t get why people cut engines on a gear up landing. Leave them running and let the insurance company figure it out.
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Insurance company:

“Hey thanks for saving the engines, we’re not going to drop your coverage.”

“Awktually….see ya”
 
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