Aircraft declared Mayday due to yoke coming off, pilot was able to get in passenger seat and regain control and made a hard landing.
Date: 22-MAY-21
Time: 23:22:00Z
Regis#: N5717K
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20J
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: VAN NUYS
State: CALIFORNIA
Mooney cockpit is pretty small. Shouldn't be to hard to reach across to the right yoke.
ReplyDeleteYou really think it would be easy to just grab the left handle of the right seat yoke and fly the aircraft with your left arm under it managing the power levers and radio? Show us all how it can be done please because I'll donate to your Youtube video fund if you succeed doing it!
DeleteI was the pilot! The incident keeps playing in my mind everyday! I really dont know how i was able to quickly disconnect my shoulder harness and jump in to the passenger side! The airplane was on a dive with a turn to the right! After i was situated on the right, the seat were not locking in place and it was moving back and forward... I couldn't even reach the pedals. It was a nightmare. Finally after several attempts seat locked in placed. It was a windy and gusty day! This could of been a total disaster if the yoke would of come out during my climb at the departure airport! I thank GOD everyday!!
DeleteAwesome job! I'm wondering what caused the yoke to detach. Yikes!
DeleteGod did not fly your plane. It's appropriate that you said this because religion is for people who don't have two feet firmly planted on the ground, which you didn't.
DeleteAmen, brother. There is no god. And people who thank their deity after surviving death are insulting fellow believers who did not survive their ordeals, as if their mythical deity cared more about them than those who died. #selfish
DeleteWhat's selfish is turning this survivors story into a soapbox for your own message.
DeleteA little ? MORE like a "LOTTA EASIER SAID THAN DONE!" SCARY thank God all ok!
ReplyDeleteHello. I thank GOD everyday!
DeleteWould you say your maintenance is performed on a wing and a prayer?
DeleteShawn26. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteHow do you plan for an event like that. I don’t think mooney includes sudden yoke detachment in their emergency procedures. Great stress management
ReplyDeleteHow do you plan for an event like that. I don’t think mooney includes sudden yoke detachment in their emergency procedures. Great stress management
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say. But practicing on the Right Seat is ideal for these situations. Im just glad i didn't have a passenger on the seat otherwise that would of been another big challenge.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Shawn! Just saw this on vasaviation. Makes me want to practice flying from the right seat. One thing my instructor did with me was to have me fly for a while using just elevator trim and rudder. Hope you’re up and safely flying again!
ReplyDeleteYokes don't just come off. Stop being a cheap-o and spend some money on maintenance.
ReplyDeleteThe pilot is a friend of mine. His plans just came out if a major avionics upgrade and he was flying back to his home girls where we are both based. The avionics shop failed to properly secure the pilot yoke when finishing their work. He was very lucky.
DeleteI don't know what the statute of limitations would be on something like this, and this is a personal reflection and not legal advice, but, honestly, if someone believes he has better things to do and is more willing than I would be to "let bygones be bygones," more power to him, but I have a hard time believing that a winning lawsuit wouldn't come out of this ...
ReplyDeleteHi, I just saw a video about this incident, I'm still learning with a CFI (I'm from France) and I was impressed by your cold blood to manage such drama... wonderful job, and lovely ATC assistance too!! God bless you man
ReplyDelete