Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A other 1800 NM trip KCNO-KRPD

So a Friday we was ready for repositioning that fouga from Chino in California to Rice Lake airport in WI
IFR flight plan and we was on the way.
First KDXZ St Georges UT where we had a minor problem with the main hydraulic accumulator

KDXZ to KGJT  Grand Junction where we lost the front horizon



.After KGJT to Cheyenne we was diverted due to the bad weather to KHDN  Yampa valley airport and KRIW Rivertown where we spent the night
Next Morning KRAP Rapid city regional airport with Mont Rushmore under the right engine inlet
Next KATY ( like my wife US short name ) Watertown regional Airport
Last Leg KATY-KRPD Rice lake airport.
When we arrived at Watertown airport I went to file the IFR flight plan and check the weather for our destination airport: 4000ft overcast . Not a problem.
We had to wait over 2 hours to have somebody showing for refuelling the aircraft ( gone fishing ) plus a other 1/2 hours before to be ready for take off.
I did not took a other look for the weather at this time: Big Mistake...
After we took off FL210.
At 10 minutes from arrival the control gave us the last weather: 400ft overcast.
We requested an other confirmation about the ceiling because from 4000 to 400ft it is a big change.
Yes it was 400ft overcast.
We started the descent to be vectored on the ILS and I had my Garmin 196, Ipad with AHRS and synthetic vision plus regular IFR instruments with GS on the aircraft.
At 5000ft the front pilot did not saw any needdle moving on the HSI.
We ask the control to help us for a other localiser interception. Controlers are very helpfull.
So the owner was flying the aircraft when I was looking the GPS and Ipad.
I saw that we was intercepting the center of the runway on the Ipad and GPS but the owner called for dead needle on his HSI. Go around.
So we ask again a other interception and downwind we was going low in fuel.
Last and what could been the last interception of the localiser, the owner saw the needle of the localiser moving but erratic.
He plannned to guide up on the localiser but no glideslope.
We made the descent to the minimum allowed by the FAA and finaly we saw the runway and landed safe.
Almost a CAT 3 approach. Thanks Mike.
The camera have some distorsion but this is a 400ft overcast and in WI they have tall trees