Mayday Call

[Bryon]

Have you ever made a Mayday call?

 

Why?

 

When?

 

Do you still think about it?

 

Has it improved your flying?

 

Do you think our experiences will benefit others?

 

Should we have a Mayday Club that meets each year at Natfly? (for a drink together)

 

I am not the only one to experience an engine failure and emergency landing. Can we get together and share those experiences?

 

 

[sseeker]

Hi Bryon,

 

I haven't declared one (and I hope I won't have to) but I'm interested in your story. Mind sharing? How did ATC respond or was it on the CTAF?

 

Thanks,

 

Andrew

 

 

[flying dog]

OK,

 

Here are two of my stories.

 

Way back when..... I was flying a Jab LSA back from Wagga to Hoxton Park - when it still existed.

 

It was one of my first X-Country trips.

 

I took an old boat GPS with me for the sake of fun. It worked getting there buy the return trip it kept "failing" to get a fix. This was "distracting" me from flying. I say distracting only that it was given a high priority at the time.

 

My intended track from Wagga to YHOX was YSWG - YGLB - BIK - YHOX. In English: Wagga, Goulburn, Bindook, Hoxton.

 

Goulburn to Bindook isn't too bad, but Bindook to Hoxton was over a lot of tigers. This didn't worry me as I was going to be high enough.

 

I'd got past Goulburn and was going towards the start of the range heading for Bindook. The plane was flying nice and it was pretty well flying itself.

 

Therefore I was looking at the GPS which kept "dropping out" of track. Just on a side to resolve this issue: It is a BOAT gps. I say again: BOAT. Two days earlier there was a SW wind and my GS was low. The GPS was happy. Coming home that SW wind made my GS too high and the GPS was not liking it.

 

So: I had my paperwork on the seat, the GPS on the seat, my water bottle and other things needed for the flight. The rest was behind the tank.

 

I am monitoring my height as I am near the northern part of the Canberra zone, but was ok. I looked at the GPS and saw it wasn't tracking again and picked it up - or something.

 

Suddenly the plane dropped - ZOOM! Then went up just as fast.

 

SUffice to say the GPS flew in the cabin - as did most other things.

 

My attention immediatly went from the GPS to the plane. Hand on stick, throttle back a bit, check both wings were still there and a look at my feet. With this sudden change in attitude, I felt a "bump" on my foot. SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OFF AND LANDED ON MY FOOT!

 

Luckily it was only a socket. Phew!

 

But it was a bit of a worry. I had to work to keep it straight and level.

 

Quick look at the chart, 2 O'Clock was Mittagong.

 

Got onto Sydney Radar and explained the situation, as I was just about to get to the step and would have to go lower - where I didn't want to go. It was rought enough were I was. Lower would be worse.

 

The person went thorugh the standard questions: "How many POB, How much fuel, Intended destination, etc"

 

I answered and they got onto a couple of other planes near by. They cleared me through at 3,000 all the way to YHOX and the other plane "escorted me" there.

 

A few weeks later I had to answer a few questions but I wasn't fined.

 

The person at Sydney Radar was nice. It wasn't a worry for them. Well I guess a small plane with ONE person isn't as bad a a large Jet which has lots of people.

 

The other time was flying back from down the coast (though Nowra) back to YHOX.

 

I had passed YWOL and was getting near Appin. Alas it was bad weather and close to sunset. The cloudbase was lower than I expected and it looked like rain.

 

Getting closer to Appin it started to rain and I didn't like this. I checked with Sydney Radar and they asked if I was going to continue to YHOX or divert.

 

At that point the rain stopped and I thought it would be ok. I said I would continue, no problems. Thanks.

 

About 30 seconds later the rain hit again - harder.

 

"Sydney radar, the situation has changed. I think I had better go elsewhere. Is Camden ok?" Usually Camden is CTA of a weekend and I am not allowed to go there.

 

Sydney Radar got back to me without a blink. "Camden is at your 10 O'Clock, 5 miles and the tower has just closed. Contact me again when on the ground. Camden frequency is ......."

 

I went in and landed ok. Just as I did Camden tower called me checking I was ok. Sydney Radar had just called them.

 

So all in all that was pretty interesting too.

 

No letters from that event.

 

Don't be affraid to ask for help.

 

 

[Thirsty]

Seems like ATC were pretty helpful when needed. Do you write down all those freqs along your course when flying just in case?

 

 

[flying dog]

I write down all the "Radar"/"Centre" frequencies, en-route airports, etc.

 

Yes.

 

I don't bother with the weather etc. But any areas though which I am flying I write down the frequency.

 

It is handy to listen and keep up the "Situational Awareness" as much as possible.

 

 

[motzartmerv]

Hi Dog. Wedderburn wasn't an option??

 

 

[flying dog]

Yes it was, but Camden was more known to me.

 

It has been asked before.

 

I am only repeating the situation as it happened.

 

Why it didn't come into the equation I don't know. Possibily because it was NOT a real emergency and I think at that time it was/still is PPR.

 

 

[Yenn]

Did you give a mayday call or just declare an emergency?

 

 

[Bryon]

Hi Bryon,I haven't declared one (and I hope I won't have to) but I'm interested in your story. Mind sharing? How did ATC respond or was it on the CTAF?

 

Thanks,

 

Andrew

Andrew,

 

you can read the whole story here http://www.recreationalflying.com/forum/incidents-accidents/99036-ultralight-down-outback-nsw.html

 

I made the call on the area frequency and it was picked up by Melb Centre. Apparently, they cleared the frequency for me. Once I was down, they couldnt hear me and I was communicating with an RPT called Brindabella 399 who was transferring the info to both Melb and the CFI of Tooradin who was looking for me. There was about 5 aircraft that had left Tooradin to make the flight to Broken Hill and he wasnt far away.

 

Once he found us and assured Melb Centre we were OK, they cancelled the emergency.

 

I can still repeat the Mayday call word for word because I remember at the time hoping I wouldnt get into trouble for making it. Silly isnt it.

 

ATC was great and I cant believe how quickly and smoothly everything happened to find us and make sure we were OK.

 

Apparently my wife in Melb was informed that something had happened but that I was OK within half an hour of my Mayday Call

 

Boy did she yell at me when I got home

 

Cheers

 

Bryon

 

 

[rgmwa]

Apparently my wife in Melb was informed that something had happened but that I was OK within half an hour of my Mayday CallBoy did she yell at me when I got home

Cheers

 

Bryon

My wife would have grounded me for a week (maybe more!) :)

 

rgmwa

 

 

[flying dog]

Yenn,

 

On the one into Camden, it was initially a weather query then when it started pi$$ing down I asked for an alternative and was told Camden.

 

With the one from Wagga, it was "Yikes, I don't like this, can you help me find a clear path to my destination?"

 

It was years ago, and I don't really remember the specifics.

 

 

[REastwood]

I made a Mayday call yesterday! Initially engine suddenly went to 5 cylinders only, after checks etc, and with engine still running, started looking for paddock and made sure VHF and area freq. 30 seconds later it went very quiet. I have just finished my Instructor training and you are taught "if the engine stops it's a Mayday". I had a paddock selected while engine was still running, and though hilly it looked OK, but as soon as the engine stopped I gave a Mayday call. I just ran through the drill: "Mayday x 3, Aircraft x 3, Engine failure, approx. position, 1 POB, intentions to land in paddock, will call on ground if possible". Adelaide radar responded that they had noted Mayday, confirm position if possible and that emergency services have been notified. I think I dropped out of radar after about a minute after calling and once on the ground I could not make contact (aircraft had flipped.) so I called the police and gave exact position (iPhones are great!) and that I was uninjured.

 

All in all it happened very quick, it turned out OK, and if it happened again I would still make a Mayday call. I could have been injured, unconscious etc. A Mayday indicates you have a serious problem. If I had just said something is wrong with the engine and I'm going to land, it could be taken that all is under control. Whilst having a whole load of police, ambulance, fire trucks and media helicopters rolling up is quite embarrassing, better being embarrassed than something worse.

 

 

[flying dog]

The next (big) question is:

 

Did you press that magic button on the EPIRB?

 

 

[farri]

https://www.recreationalflying.com/xf2/uploads/emoticons/006_laugh.gif.0f7b82c13a0ec29502c5fb56c616f069.gif[/img]

Frank.

[Bryon]

I made a Mayday call yesterday! Initially engine suddenly went to 5 cylinders only, after checks etc, and with engine still running, started looking for paddock and made sure VHF and area freq. 30 seconds later it went very quiet. I have just finished my Instructor training and you are taught "if the engine stops it's a Mayday". I had a paddock selected while engine was still running, and though hilly it looked OK, but as soon as the engine stopped I gave a Mayday call. I just ran through the drill: "Mayday x 3, Aircraft x 3, Engine failure, approx. position, 1 POB, intentions to land in paddock, will call on ground if possible". Adelaide radar responded that they had noted Mayday, confirm position if possible and that emergency services have been notified. I think I dropped out of radar after about a minute after calling and once on the ground I could not make contact (aircraft had flipped.) so I called the police and gave exact position (iPhones are great!) and that I was uninjured.All in all it happened very quick, it turned out OK, and if it happened again I would still make a Mayday call. I could have been injured, unconscious etc. A Mayday indicates you have a serious problem. If I had just said something is wrong with the engine and I'm going to land, it could be taken that all is under control. Whilst having a whole load of police, ambulance, fire trucks and media helicopters rolling up is quite embarrassing, better being embarrassed than something worse.

REastwood,

 

You got it down safely (well nearly) and your training kicked in. Welcome to the club

 

[ I bet you never yelled back?

 

Frank.

You can believe that Frank, I am still trying to convince her to come on a flight with me

 

Bryon, not sure I can join your club because I didn't have time to make a Mayday call:laugh:. Still think about it? Occasionally

Has it improved your flying? I'm sure it has

 

Benefit others? Definetly

 

Mayday Club? Why not - you will be surprised how many members you will get though if they all own up!

 

Cheers

 

Dexter

Dexter,

 

I think you can be forgiven and allowed to join if you try to bribe us.

 

The one thing I have noticed is that now I am constantly scanning the ground around for possible landing sites and planning how to get there if need be.

 

This has sort of improved my situational awareness as I now look more seriously at the landscape and my position along the track

 

 

[Bryon]

Have you noticed that when you are training you have plenty of time to set the aircraft up and go through your drills, but, when it comes to the real thing, it happens so quick......

 

 

[flying dog]

Sorry to harp on, but did you use the EPIRB?

 

It would be nice to know if you did what happened on that front too.

 

 

[REastwood]

I didn't activate my EPIRB, I did make sure I had it around my neck and ready to go. I'm not sure why I didn't activate it, maybe because I put it down within a few hundred meters of civilisation.

 

 

[flying dog]

Fair enough.

 

Ok, I wan't there - obvliously - but although you are "within stone's throw of civilisation" , depending on where you are, that doesn't always mean anyone would see/notice/take action.

 

I have been told from other people: You press the button and about a minute later your phone rings. "Hello, can you hang on just a second? I am still in the process of crashing - thanks."

 

"Ok, down and safe. Sorry."

 

But anyway, glad to hear all went ok and you can tell us about it.

 

 

[REastwood]

I must admit these PLB's (mine is a GME accsat) do not lend themselves to quick activation. I reckon it could take 20 - 30 seconds to activate (pull it out, remove cap etc), a lot of time when you are only 1,500 ft AGL.

 

Flying Dog, you are right of course, I should have activated it but things happened pretty quick and while I always carry the PLB I don't always run through the instructions on how to activate it. I guess a lesson to learn from this is to make sure you know how to activate your PLB without really thinking so it doesn't distract you from flying the aircraft.

 

 

[flying dog]

REastwood,

 

Sorry I wasn't meaning to sound like I was having a go.

 

I kind of appreciate: When the big fan stops, there is a set list of things to do in THAT order.

 

And if you aren't that high, the list is even shorter.

 

I was only asking.

 

Also as I said before, it is good to see you made it ok. I have been close to situations like that but never THAT far.

 

As much as it would (probably be) an underpants changing experiance, it is also a good learning curve huh?

 

 

[REastwood]

REastwood,Sorry I wasn't meaning to sound like I was having a go.

Hi Flying dog, didn't take it that way at all. I think the more discussion there is and more analysis of what else could be done or done differently in these situations the more chance that that information will lodge in your memory, and when, or if, it ever happens again that little bit of information may just help.

 

The discussion on EPIRBs had made me realise that it's not good enough just having it with you, I need to know how to operate it quickly without thinking too much about it. Also, as part of the pre-flight make sure the monthly test of the EPIRB has been done.

 

 

[kaz3g]

Bryon said:

 

The one thing I have noticed is that now I am constantly scanning the ground around for possible landing sites and planning how to get there if need be.

 

This has sort of improved my situational awareness as I now look more seriously at the landscape and my position along the track

 

Great outcome, mate and congratulations on walking away.

 

Much of my early flying was in gliders and I learned at the outset to fly from one outlanding possibility to the next... I still keep looking for them and always feel better when I have one in sight even now. The 0-320 Lycoming is probably the second most reliable engine around but it's good to have that option available.

 

kaz