My second load, my first emergency!
I drove to the DZ with my logbook and the advice that they might need pilots. I had about 350 hrs and a brand new CFI cert. Previously I had flown a few hours right seat in a Twin Bonanza at another DZ, so I had an idea what to expect.
The DZ owner/chief pilot landed after a load and I introduced myself, and asked if they might need somebody. He said yes, because he was doing all the flying and wanted to get back to jumping. We put the right seat in and did a few T&Gs. Since I did OK, we took up a load of 3 plus the DZ owner riding right behind me. We did 3 loads like that, and I did OK. I was a little overwhelmed, but was picking it up OK.
We planed to do a 4th load under supervision, but a fourth jumper wanted to go, so the DZ owner sent me on my way. I did a good take off and climb to 10,500 and released the jumpers. During my descent I backed the RPM to 2200 like I was told to. I made a good approach and landing with out ever adjusting the throttle.
This DZ was on it's own 3,000ft grass strip. One thing about this place was that it was set in a small depression. The first 1/3 of the runway was a descending slope and the rest was a gentle up slope. Previously I had been airborne by the low point, and climbed away fine.
The next load (my 2nd solo) I had two tandem combos. I started up and taxied into takeoff position which was right near the packing building, and picnic tables. When I added full throttle I heard it speed up, then slow back down. I continued with my take off not realizing the significance of what I had heard. As I passed my usual lift off point I realized that something was wrong. I looked at the engine controls and didn't see anything wrong. The mixture knob stuck out about 1/4 inch at full rich, and I noticed the prop knob doing the same thing. I thought this was normal for this plane.
Very quickly I passed the point where I could have stopped safely. I finally lifted off well past where I should have. The stall horn was blaring, and I could feel the controls buffeting at the edge of a stall. Knowing I needed more speed I retracted the flaps, much too soon. I felt the A/C sink, and I looked out to the side. I was passing the brush lining the end of the runway. I couldn't see the tops of some Texas scrub Oak. Finally I pushed all the engine controls forward. The second I pushed the prop knob forward the engine speed right up, and we started climbing.
I HAD NEVER RESET THE PROP RPM FROM THE LAST LOAD!
That was the closest I have ever come to crashing, and the most scared I have ever been in my life. To my credit, I didn't panic and flew the plane all the way through the emergency. However this should have never happened
I learned several lessons from this incident, and I tell this tale to all my flight students now.
1 Use your checklists. If I had done a basic GUMP check before landing on the previous flight I would have been fine.
2 If something is wrong on take off, don't waste time, just abort. Then figure out what was wrong.
3 Keep flying the plane and don’t panic. I didn’t have much to work with, but I used it anyway, all those hours of slow flight paid off.
4 Never assume anything. If something doesn’t look right check it.
