Airplane take-off, emergency and landing in a Glasair

My Glasair engine is a Subaru SVX EG-33. Six bearings in the speed reduction unit failed during departure. I declared an in-flight emergency and immediately returned for landing. Total flight time was 63 seconds.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• impossible turn
• the impossible turn
• Alcyone
• auto engine
• automotive engine
• automobile engine
• experimental
• plane
• PSRU

[POON3345]

Where is this?

[ThrottleUpSVX]

LVJ

[navamerican]

You did a very marginal Question Mark Turn with power on...I had done them at 400 feet but never that low and without any flaps..If flaps 10 degree you could have climbed faster and safer..Stall warning was telling you to put some flaps..At 1:38 a little ground turbulence could have stalled you and Kaput you..Anyway congratulations and wellcome to the Turnback Team..They can be used also if hitting IFR on take off or any other emergency..that requires a quick landing..Better than crashing out.

[ThrottleUpSVX]

The buzzer during much of the flight is the "gear up" with "flaps extended" warning horn ... the stall horn never sounded. Departure was made with 10 degrees and remained there til landing with 25. Speed did drop but the flight never reached critically low speed. Power was intentionally reduced to keep gearbox temps down. I fly patrol flights at 500 ft or less, often 6 to 8 hrs a day. So, I do have low level maneuvering experience. Happy to be a succesful member of the Turnback Team !!!

[alex0157b]

what Subaru engine mfg/PSRU are you running?

[ThrottleUpSVX]

This was my own firewall forward ... less the PRSU and prop.

[RobRocket79]

well done, kept a level head

[MegaBuckBuck1]

Thanks for posting. You made the call, you were the one flying. I'm sure if you would've had a total, your decision process would've taken you a different route.

[tailwheelflier]

I can't wrap my head around guys putting high revving car engines on airplanes, buying gearboxs, building engine mounts, modifying parts, props, and it actually ends up costing as much if not more than a good old fashioned certified engine/prop,,,,I understand all the "discovery flights", but when you've had as many deadsticks as I in the last 24 years,,,certified starts sounding good, and the Ben Franklins don't hold so much merit!

[tailwheelflier]

@navamerican , oh please just hush,,,,flight sim doesn't count mr armchair pilot, LOL

[Aeroerotic]

thanks for posting that vid. nice job getting back (and you landed right on the centreline!)

[youngestpilotinGa]

OUTSTANDING WORK

-usafaux 

[5xls]

You're VERY lucky you're alive my friend. Poor judgement to turn around at that altitude and airspeed. Even in the video several nice green landing spots can be seen. Save your butt, not the plane!

Paul

ATP B-737 B-757 B-767 CE-500 CFII MEI AGI IGI A&P

[Jazzy78910]

@Jazzy78910 Watching again, there was numerous fields ahead of the aircraft that would have been a safer option. As others say however, you're down in 1 piece and that's all that matters.