(vintage)B-17 Landing Accident Question

[lmritger]

Welp, there's that mystery put to bed. Thanks Craig!

Lynn

[res6kgcr]

Thanks Craig for the photos!

If it was winter the pilot could have use the radar as a ski?

In any event it looks to me that the radar took the force of the landing and kept the attitude of the plane a little bit higher than a “normal” wheels up landing.

Best regards,

Tom

[omega7]

Prop tips bent forward on that fashion typically resulted from a gear up ground loop whereby the airplane comes to rest tail first or nearly so. These prop blades make conversational hangar art, otherwise they just AIN’T pretty.

Q-7 arrays were surprisingly strong. I have a shot of a LIB’s front end resting on its vane after a landing where it slid approx. 1500 feet with a collapsed nose wheel. Also have seen photos of one recovered from shredded wreckage; it was fairly intact. –Adrian

[airnutz]

Prop tips bent forward on that fashion typically resulted from a gear up ground loop whereby the airplane comes to rest tail first or nearly so. These prop blades make conversational hangar art, otherwise they just AIN’T pretty.

Nein! Nein! Nein! No tailfirst settling of the aircraft as a reason for bent forward prop tips! Look at how a propeller is made. In positive pitch with power applied the backside of the propeller actually strikes the ground first. Come on, pull one of your models off the shelf and give it a looksee.

Yep they do make neat conversational art. We had a bent prop blade from a T-34 we used as a doorstop for years. A family member attempted to land the Mentor without lowering the landing gear which neatly curled the tips forward. It was a b*tch to haul it to 6th grade show and tell.

[omega7]

[quote][i]Come on, pull one of your models off the shelf and give it a looksee.[/i][/quote]

We don’t need no stinkin’ models (a movie quip, not a reflection on model builders)!

In the long ago, I saw the results of a botched Fort landing. It overran a bank at the end of the runway where the gear collapsed turning the airplane nearly backwards in its travels. Most prop tips were pulled towards the nose of the airplane.

Similarly, I have seen wartime photos of straight-in, gear up landings with prop ends definitely bent back, pointing toward the empennage. -Adrian

[airnutz]

In the long ago, I saw the results of a botched Fort landing. It overran a bank at the end of the runway where the gear collapsed turning the airplane nearly backwards in its travels. Most prop tips were pulled towards the nose of the airplane.

Yup, my bad Adrian, I usually add a disclaimer that changing conditions during the event will give mixed appearances.

Similarly, I have seen wartime photos of straight-in, gear up landings with prop ends definitely bent back, pointing toward the empennage. -Adrian

When you chop the power, but the blades are still turning, you can end up with all or most of them bent back. Inertia gives as long as it's got.

On the previously mentioned T-34 event, there was a female backseater yammering at the PIC , "I don't think you lowered the landing gear!". Several times! His light bulb finally went off and he applied power trying to save the situation...too late. Those babies were curled like sardine tin lids.

[mike furline]

[quote="omega7] In the long ago, I saw the results of a botched Fort landing. It overran a bank at the end of the runway where the gear collapsed turning the airplane nearly backwards in its travels. Most prop tips were pulled towards the nose of the airplane.[/quote]

I have better pics at home, but "backwards" didn't happen. I was there.