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FLYING OUTSIDE LIMITATIONS!! (FOR A SHORT TIME)
I should know better I have nearly 18,000 hours flying aircraft, never an accident but did observe aircraft limitations scrupulously!
We’ve all been there, I had taken some video of a friends pub down in the West Country in a 20+kts wind. The GPS held the aircraft as steady as a rock. This was great and filled me full of confidence. Wouldn’t do it in ATTI mode
Several weeks later a buddy calls me to do a survey of his property next time the weather is fine. An isolated house in a very rural setting. A lovely sunny day but windy probably 20 kts gusting 35+. Nothing to induce electromagnetic interference, but some local topography to aggravate turbulence.
I hadn’t flown for a few weeks, all batteries recharged, compass swing carried out, but no IMU verification.
Take off, no problem and a low level fly out, controls checked all appeared normal and then a maximum rate of climb to 94 metres (300 ft). I was looking at the screen to see if the view was satisfactory.
I heard a sudden change in engine note and saw the aircraft in a power dive straight into the ground.
The flight data recording ceases at the end of the vertical climb but the crash occurred some ten metres away. When I saw the aircraft on a full power descent I applied full power in an attempt to counter the ROD. It had no effect.
Is it possible that the following occurred? The aircraft flying into wind the “nose” down. A sudden very large change in wind velocity would result in a temporary increase in the nose down attitude and “flipped” the aircraft upside down with a reduction of altitude. If the aircraft is attempting to regain altitude it will apply power to climb, but in this case resulting in a massive rate of descent. Is this possible or does anybody have any ideas?
The lesson to be learnt: RESPECT AIRCRAFT LIMITATIONS
“There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots” is a very true statement!
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