Small Plane Lands On Highway 93 South Of HamiltonRAVALLI COUNTY
By KECI Staff
POSTED: 11:26 am MDT July 21, 2011
1:02 pm MDT July 21, 2011
MT Highway Patrol
DARBY, Mont. -- A small plane made an emergency landing about 10:30 Thursday morning on US Highway 93, just north of Darby.
Troopers say the pilot and passenger were en route from Denver to the Bitterroot Valley for a vacation when their engine died.
The pilot landed on the highway and then noticed that his fuel tank selector valve was set in the “left wing” position – not in the “both wings” position.
Pilot James Hollis from Colorado made the switch, checked the fuel in the right wing, restarted the engine and took off.
*****
I bet he checks the fuel selector during his next pre-flight....and for quite a few more....
That is a checklist item.
In a Cessna it should be on "both" but some of the other brands only have right and left.
The forked tail Doctor Killer (v-tail Beechcraft Bonanza) has right main, left main and two auxiliaries if I remember right. The selector has four postitions, right, left, aux and off. In the fuel injection models you take off on the left tank, burn it for an hour then switch to the auxiliaries (can't be used for takeoff and landing). The fuel return goes to the right tank so you need some room in there otherwise you will vent fuel overboard (increases your burn rate). The explanation was that the fuel pump sends too much to the engine so some comes back in a return line which goes to the left tank.
DAve..Will the pilot get a please explain from authorities?
Will he then be hauled over the coals and a reassessment of his pilot license?
Just Curious
RADU
DAve..Will the pilot get a please explain from authorities?
If the FAA can catch up with him I am sure they will at least investigate. They could cite him for "reckless and careless" under the Federal Aviation Regulations for failure to use a checklist.
In the USA these types of actions are civil matters.
There was an old story at the Flying Club I was a member of years ago that involved a solo student pilot that ran out of gas and landed at the City dump (no damage). The Chief Pilot and Club manager drove over there with a can of gas and just as the FAA Inspector was driving into the dump the Chief Pilot poured the coals to it and took off (by himself). The club manager jumped in the car and drove away. The FAA had no right to detain her.
Can't land on auxiliary? Doesn't sound like a sensible design.
there are a couple of good tangents down there and it has a 40' top. Would have had a tougher time doing it pre-1993 w/ the old alignment and grade.
Fuel Return To Left Or Right Tank ?
Your explanation is confusing. If the fuel return is to the right tank you want to take off on that tank to make rooom for switching tanks later.
Paul in PA
Yeah, and good thing he didn't do it in Victor. Not much road there right now.
Fuel Return To Left Or Right Tank ?
oops, you are right. The fuel return goes to the left tank.
I can picture the left tank out the pilot's side window but for some reason I keep thinking "right." Too many years of reversing right and left for the rodman. I used to confuse students too telling them to turn right when I meant left.
Fuel Return To Left Or Right Tank ?
Me too Dave. I remember in first grade, the teacher said: "Your right hand is the hand that your write with." I remember thinking "I can remember that." Only problem is, I am a lefty. I had problems getting things "right" for years, finally got things worked out, and I find myself running a transit for a firm that did a lot of staking for sewer and curbs. It started all over again....
Fuel Return To Left Or Right Tank ?
> oops, you are right. The fuel return goes to the left tank.
>
> I can picture the left tank out the pilot's side window but for some reason I keep thinking "right." Too many years of reversing right and left for the rodman. I used to confuse students too telling them to turn right when I meant left.
That would mean that when the right tank is empty, and all seems lost, there should be just a little overflow back in the formerly emptied left tank.
Fuel Return To Left Or Right Tank ?
I don't recommend running a fuel injected engine dry (it might be tough to get it started again due to vapor lock) but if you run the right nearly dry then the left should be full not to mention the auxiliaries.
Most small airplanes have 4 to 5 hours of range but I personally like to take a break before that anyway.
The hot plant was down on Tuesday when I left, but should have been repaired on Wed. I'd think they would have all the mainline done now, but the split line and grade with raised medians would be a little rough on a landing....
Hmm... I had dinner at the steakhouse about a month ago. It looked like they were getting close with the base. Other parts had me convinced that the road was laid out and constructed by lewis and clark while being chased by hostiles. Thank god for the eastside highway.
gotta break some eggs to make an omelet 😉
