Mike wrote:

"The only "take home" safety message that I'm processing is the report that the Velocity got one wheel off the runway in the grass/dirt/mud/sand. One report stated that the Velocity pilot added power to go around.  I'm not sure which occurred first, adding power, or getting a wheel off the runway.  But if he had a wheel off the runway and added power, it sounds very similar to the Grant Bailey IVP fatal accident.  I'm curious to hear from the Lancair gurus on what they recommend when a landing goes bad and a wheel leaves the pavement.  I'm not so sure adding power is a good thing."

I think it unfortunately depends completely on the circumstances.  I was a passenger in a 320 that got a wheel in the gravel at Sisters, OR.  The pilot added full power and we went around without further incident.  I am pretty sure that there would have been a pretty ugly crash if he had tried to continue the landing.  On the other hand, the ground was dry and there was not a huge dip from the pavement to the gravel.  There were also trees lining the runway close and some pretty ugly ground in between.  With smooth grass and taxiways (unencumbered with other airplanes) and the wheel getting pretty badly hung up in whatever it got into, I might elect to slide home.  Also depends if you are off left (in which case torque will compound the problem) or right (in which case it will help solve it.) Problem is, you have nanoseconds to decide.


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