From: Daniel Schott <fkmarine@athenet.net>
To: Jaques Nauer <jacques.nauer@datazug.ch>
Subject: Fw: A TRUE STORY
Date: Thursday, January 28, 1999 12:06 PM



----------
> From: Daniel Schott <fkmarine@athenet.net>
> To: jim fay <jimfay@athenet.net>
> Subject: A TRUE STORY
> Date: Thursday, January 28, 1999 12:05 PM
> > I thought I would tell all of you a "true" story.  On Tuesday, January
26,
> 1999, Don Goetz and I were up test flying my new Lancair 4P.  We had
about
> 7.5 hours on the plane and engine -- everything was going great.  We

> just done some touch and goes, and engine-out practice.  We decided to
fly
> south of Fond du Lac, WI at 5500 feet indicated (4500 feet above

> I was turning the plane a 180 degree turn back to Appleton when the oil
> pressure alarms went on and the engine blew up (Continental TSO-550). Don
> immediately hit nearest on the Garmin 300XL G.P.S. and West Bend, WI

> up at 110 degrees and 8 miles.  I immediately turned to 110 degrees and
set
> up glide at 120K speed.  We started looking for a road to land on, but
the
> traffic was very heavy and it didn't look good.  The plane was falling
out
> of the sky, and it looked dim for us.  Don finally said in his calm

> "let me take the controls", and I did.  From that time on, I tried to
call
> the field and called off numbers for Don.  He was very calm, but I

> remember how I was.  As we approached the field, we were lucky because
the
> runway was about 120 degrees and we could head straight in.
> > Well, as luck would have it, we were able to hold the plane up long
enough
> to clear the snow and put the gear down about 50' above the ground.  As
we
> were landing, we did not have 3 green landing lights.  The right gear

> not down all the way yet.  I yelled to Don and he jerked the plane up

> the right gear jerked into place as we came down.  We rolled to a stop
with
> smoke coming out of the engine and cabin.  I opened the door to let

> out and hopped out "fast" to see if we had an engine fire.  Luckily we
> didn't.  We opened the cowling and looked at the engine and saw a big
hole
> in the side of the block.
> > Don and I are both lucky to be alive and well, and I have Don Goetz to
> thank for being a GREAT pilot.  I also want to thank Lance of Lancair

> his people for designing a great airplane able to glide so well.  I

> tell you that we could not feather the prop -- no oil pressure.
> > What is the moral of this story -- KEEP HIGH (especially landing), and
> practice engine-out flying and know your nearest airport.
> > Also, thanks to Garmin and all the people who helped me build my plane.

We
> live to fly again.  Thank you.
> > Daniel G. Schott
> 920-720-7080
> E-Mail  fkmarine@athenet.net