Landing a Microlight in water - without floats

[Louis Cole]

Paul, two-up is definitely the way to go. Ask Dionne to hold the trike straight and level while you prepare to jump and test the water and at least she will solve the CoG problem after you bailed.

[Bundy]

[mulderpm]

Louis, you are lucky she does not visit the forum much.... But, I didn't think of it that way, you are right....the co-pilots responsibility is to fly the plane when the PIC is not present or capable. While I am jumping I am not capable and soon after, not present. Thin ice, I am telling you.

The other way to overcome the problem I suggested she must rather take a.....boat. You should have seen the look I got!!

[ME 109]

Hi all,
Very interesting comments with regard to water landings...During our offshore survival course we (offshore oil rig workers) have to be declared competent in helicopter escape procedures in the event of a ditching. They dump us in a 3m pool, strapped into a mock up of a helicopter cabin I can definitely confirm that most guys experience extreme disorientation as soon as the cabin is submerged, usually turning upside down, this is the biggest problem, causing panic and the will to escape above all else, resulting in being trapped/entangled in surrounding objects, while going down...down
With microlights I fully agree...jump clear before hitting the water, and if wearing flotation gear, use the type that inflates with an internal compressed air canister. Only activate the inflation system after hitting the water and clear of the wreckage, as an inflated jacket can severely inhibit your escape from the wreck if no jump was executed and you go down with the wreck. In addition the jacket can cause severe neck injuries when inflated before striking the water......Include planning for "what if -specific to water environments " in your flight planning. Luckily microlight pilots are responsible individuals

[mulderpm]

Thanks Andries for you wise inputs. Yes, disorientation under water can be a killer. Actually it is breathing the water that is the ultimate killer but that follows soon after.

You also made me think twice on whether I should keep my helmet on? This could cause a serious neck injury if the water catches the visor? and it won't help when hitting the water anyway??

[zudat]

Just a basic thought , the carriage "Hangs" from the wing so there will be no shift of the CofG relative to the wing. The carriage will change it"s attitude marginally and there will be less weight "opposing" the lift vector so the trike may "Lift up" as opposed to "Pitch up".... bottom line ..... I would be JUMPING.... BUT I wouldn't be over the water in the first place.

[mulderpm]

From the "Flight Manuals" the CoG of a two seat weight shift control Trike is typically slightly behind the pilot seat in the middle of the passenger seat. Therefore the CoG will not significantly change with a passenger. It is also directly above the middle of the fuel tank so that different fuel quantities do not significantly change the CoG fore and aft. Furthermore, it is in line with the thrust line of the engine. An imaginary line drawn from the centre of the prop through the middle of the crankshaft.

In level flight, thrust, drag, lift and weight are all balanced therefore, the CoG will be directly under the hang point and on the thrust line.

Now you, weighing about 80 Kg sitting in front of the CoG, bails out. Considering the cart weighs about 3/4 of the total aircraft weight, thus 150 kg of a 200 kg Trike and you weigh 80 kg giving the cart a total weight of 230 Kg. Lets leave the passenger at home, in any case she does not weigh much. With this weight in the cart the CoG is as described above. Now you bail out. The front (in front of the CoG) of the cart becomes 35% lighter (80 Kg's) lighter. It should pitch up quite violently...like pushing out the bar? OK, the engine is dead and you are gliding so all the forces are not balanced, but still, the nose should pitch up significantly....maybe even resulting in a stall?

[Bundy]

I am going to test this by flying naked again except this time I will chuck my knob over my left shoulder so its weight rests on the backseat thus giving us a significant change in the CofG .....I'll report back on the data...




I dunno....Paul, I tend to agree with Zudat, don't think it will violently pitch...if it was a fixed wing different story.

[mulderpm]

I dunno....Paul, I tend to agree with Zudat, don't think it will violently pitch...if it was a fixed wing different story.

What we can do....ok be reasonable... put scales under the wheels and do the jump...in the hangar. Not conclusive but your....thingy...won't be conclusive either