Breakdown in the break. (Grampaw Pettibone).A student Naval Aviator launched in a T-45 Goshawk The T-45 Goshawk is a highly modified version of the BAE Hawk land-based training jet aircraft. Built by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), the T-45 is used by the United States Navy as an aircraft carrier-capable trainer. for his initial carrier qualification flight. He was number two in a flight of three. The weather at the carrier required a Case II recovery, so when the flight was cleared into the pattern the leader detached number three and descended with the student in number two on his wing. The flight approached the break at 300 knots and 800 feet altitude. The leader detached the wingman wing·man n. A pilot whose plane is positioned behind and outside the leader in a formation of flying aircraft. Noun 1. wingman and broke to the left for the upwind leg. Following a 17-second interval the student commenced his break and turned sharply to the left, reducing power. Approximately eight seconds later the student noticed a warning/caution tone with an associated master alert light. He checked the warning/caution panel and saw the fuel pressure caution light on. He turned off the master alert light and continued with his turn. He did not yet realize he had inadvertently shut down the T-45's engine. A few seconds later there was another warning/caution tone with an associated master alert light. The student rolled wings level, checked the throttle position and engine switch on. He advanced the throttle and retracted re·tract v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts v.tr. 1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement. 2. the speed brake speed brake n. A flap on an aircraft for decreasing speed while in flight in preparation for landing. (which was extended when executing the break turn). Realizing he had flamed out, he tried an immediate air start approximately 45 seconds after the break. This failed. He tried a second relight Re`light´ v. t. 1. To light or kindle anew. but this failed also. At 125 feet, abeam a·beam adv. At right angles to the keel of a ship. prep. Alongside or at right angles to: The ship drew abeam the cove. the ship, with engine rpm approaching zero, he successfully ejected from the Goshawk goshawk: see hawk. goshawk Any of the more powerful accipiters (hawks in the genus Accipiter), primarily short-winged, forest-dwelling bird catchers. Best known is the northern goshawk, which reaches about 2 ft (60 cm) in length with a 4.3-ft (1. . He was safely recovered but the T-45 was lost. Grampaw Pettibone says: Gotta be careful when making major throttle changes when you're down close to the wave tops-or the treetops, for that matter. All the sky above you is no help at all when the motor quits and you've only got a few hundred feet to play with. This student Naval Aviator simply closed the throttle too far during the break and didn't have the time or altitude to relight the engine. Also, seconds really count under such circumstances, so think ahead and execute relight procedures as quick as you can once you realize the engine has quit. Gramps is pleased that the student survived this close call. |
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