January 3rd, 2008

Two members of aerofun decide on a jolly flight from Birrfeld LSZF to Sion LSGS.

Runway 08 is in use at Birrfeld. During the initial climb, whilst overflying the first hills of the Jura mountain range, the propeller RPM fluctuates a couple of times and then the engine suddenly decides it’s had enough and breaks the rod of its #2 cylinder...

The Lycoming coughs and shakes the whole airframe, spills oil on the windscreen, releases smoke in the cockpit. Now there is only one way to go, planetwards...

Little time is left. The descent angle is surprisingly steep due to the windmilling prop which now acts as disc shaped airbrake. The surrounding terrain is all but inviting, cliffs, forest or small steep fields.

A small road, traffic free at the moment, is chosen. The available section is about 270 metres (885 feet) of uphill concrete set between 2 hairpins.

As D-ENIB is high, she is positioned with an S turn, merely clearing trees and rooftops before being flown onto the road. The touchdown is performed flaps up with the landing gear partly extended.

The slender right wing slices through 4 plastic road posts and the once eager steed stops on the centerline after a run of about 242 metres (794 feet), geographic position N47 26.273 E8 05.022, time 1107 UTC, altitude 1844 feet.

Fantastic work Guardian Angels, thanks!

... and congratulations to the small village of Thalheim, Switzerland, for it now has its own runway, QFU 07/25 ;-)