Tip Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 it looks like the parachute did its job. Pilot is safe. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/268466 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 Bill Kemper. A 2008 CTLS 08-04-10. From Hendersonville, NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill3558 Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 That was me. Picked up plane from annual. Flew for 40 minutes was almost home when oil pressure went to zero. Declared emergency and tried to reach GMU. Engine ran for 3 or 4 minutes and then seized. Ran out of time and pulled the chute. Went into a pine tree. Left wing pulled back and fuel was pouring out of sight hose. Climbed out of the shattered left window and hugged tree till fire dept got me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassStripFlyBoy Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Glad to hear you're OK. Interesting this is the second oil starvation situation following an inspection in past year. Keep us posted on what is determined leading to the issue, probably can spot what was leaking the oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Very sorry to hear of your misfortune, Bill, and glad you're OK. I have a gazillion questions to ask but will defer until we get an indication if you are able and willing to discuss your situation publicly. Just glad you're OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted October 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 I’m so glad that you are safe. Like Jim, I have many questions. Especially firing the BRS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Another reason I don't trust anyone working on my plane but me. If I have a problem I know who look at in the mirror Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Well who did the work?? Don't be shy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Bill, glad you're OK. Glad the chute worked. It's why I fly this plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EB3 Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Wow, glad you're OK! That's a situation no one expects to be in, so it sounds like you kept you wits and handled the situation appropriately. Please keep us updated, if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 Very sorry for the accident, but happy as hell that you are okay. The CT did its job, it made sure you got home to your family and friends. Like others I have a few questions…I think you are the first person on this forum that has used the BRS in a true life emergency. That leads to a lot of questions about deployment altitude, time for the chute to fully inflate, speed of impact with terrain, etc. When & if you are at the point of wanting to discuss in more detail, Let us know. Congrats on making sound decisions and having a good outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 Extremely glad to know you are safe and sound. Like all here, we are most concerned about your physical condition, hoping you're going to be back flying as soon as you get another aircraft. Secondly, we all are sitting on the edge of our seats hoping for details that will be invaluable for us to stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 Will you be needing to buy a bigger aircraft to accommodate your balls having been brave enough to pull the ultimate of all emergency handles, Bill?! You have a captive audience ready to listen to your next post, so take your time, grab a beer, and walk us un-initiated wonderers through exactly what its like to make the same decision pet owners make when taking their dog to the vet for the last time. Obviously we all loved the dog and knew they were going to a better place, so this is really a more commendable sacrifice, and I for one am all ears….Glad you’re ok ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinoons Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 Glad to hear that your safe and the chute worked as advertised. also interested to hear the conclusion of why the motor became oil starved as that was the same ultmiate cause for my forced landing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill3558 Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 It’s good to be back with you guys. I just got my fuel soaked iPad back from repair. Where do I start. Here is the the scenario I faced. Picked up airplane after annual. Did a thorough preflight and headed home to my home airport at 0A7. Flew over Greenville airspace at 6500 feet. I was 40 minutes into the flight and the plane was running great. 18 miles south of home and approaching the mountains, my oil pressure went to zero. Suddenly. No warning. Oil temp stayed in the green. I thought maybe it was a faulty sensor. I had recently replaced it. But to be safe I turned back towards GMU and declared an emergency. You can google N121YT and hear how it went. Controller was no help and added to my stress. He didn’t know where I was and I didn’t have the presence of mind to squawk 7700. The engine continued to run. I was 10 miles north of the field at about 4500 msl. The engine started to get louder. You can hear it if you listen to my ATC comms. About 3 miles from the field with the runway in front of me, the engine seized. I tried to make the runway, but when I heard “500” on my headset and I was still a mile and half away, I knew I couldn’t make it. I saw a clearing to my right, turned towards it and pulled the chute. I was 450 agl. Its loud when the rocket goes off. The airplane jerked to a stop and pointed straight down. The nose started coming up and I went into a pine tree. My window shattered and the plane came to rest 25 degrees nose down, right wing pointing to the ground. I was about 50 feet above the ground. Fuel was pouring across the panel and me. I climbed out of the window and hugged the tree awaiting rescue. Fire dept plucked me out with a bucket about 30 minutes later. I had just a few cuts and bruises. EMS checked me out I was fine. Fast forward to yesterday when I got to see the plane after it was trucked to GMU. The local FSDO guy had called me earlier after inspecting the plane. I asked if he found cause. He hesitated and said yes. Said it was obvious after removing the cowling. I met with my insurance adjuster and we pulled the cowling off. I have to be careful here, but the cause was obvious. The oil was pumped out of the engine very quickly. No property damage, no one injured on the ground, I walked away. It doesn’t get much better than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towner Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 That's a wild ride. Sorry it happened, but just glad you are ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted October 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Thanks Bill for telling your story. So happy that you are ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill3558 Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 I was very lucky. There was a power substation 300 feet away. I am thankful to be alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okent Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Thanks for the info. Glad you got out as well as you did. I like the way you verbalized that if you can't make the runway you will just pull the chute That's why I fly a CT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill3558 Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Here is a clearer ATC recording. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill3558 Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ls6pilot Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Bill, Glad you are safe. This may be a stupid question but I have some rotator cuff problems in my rt shoulder and sometimes I wonder how hard it would be to pull the shoot. I guess adrenaline helps. Your comments please. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 I hand fired the primer on two parachute rockets that had to be replaced. Goes off like a .45 blank. Takes a lot less than expected to do it... so with adrenaline, I imagine you'll practically pull the handle out. Glad you're safe, Bill Quote Will you be needing to buy a bigger aircraft to accommodate your balls having been brave enough to pull the ultimate of all emergency handles, Bill?! You have a captive audience ready to listen to your next post, so take your time, grab a beer, and walk us un-initiated wonderers through exactly what its like to make the same decision pet owners make when taking their dog to the vet for the last time. Obviously we all loved the dog and knew they were going to a better place, so this is really a more commendable sacrifice, and I for one am all ears….Glad you’re ok ! I do like how someone here put it: we love our airplanes, but when this happens, the airplane abandoned us first. It still feels like crap when it happens, but that's simply the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted October 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Wow Bill! Are you always that cool? I sensed no panic in your voice and I had the chills just listening to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentWien Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Well done Bill. I can’t believe the controller decided to give an IFR clearance to an airplane on the ground as you were on your way down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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