Totally unique massive system failure & unrehearsed recovery

[3WE]

Ok, this is 25% serious and 75% fun.

I had just lifted off in a DC-9, and the whole yoke came loose and fell in my lap.

(My MSFS yoke, that is, clamped to the desk top)

The plane was trimmed slightly nose down. I sat- momentarily frozen- as it gently began to nose-over towards the ground.

Oh no!...I might crash!!!!!

But my mind raced...AUTOPILOT! Get it ON.....NOW.....dial in a 1000 fpm climb!

I grabed the mouse and clicked furiously on the virtual autopilot knobs...autopilot on....altitude hold on (fortunately, it had a higher altitude dialed in)....Vertical speed click click click click click click click click click click..........

Soon, the plane was climbing nicely. I reattached the yoke, while begining navigation tasks...I did NOT bother to contact the tower.

It's so important to understand your systems, and be able to think on the fly!

Ok, maybe it's 90% fun 10% serious...only my virtual butt was at risk...but it was kind of fun to deal with a huge control failure and come up with a solution and save the virtual day.

[TeeVee]

yes, but did you follow the QRH? Use your memory items (yoke detachment: 1) place head between legs. 2) kiss ass good-bye)? if not, you failed even if you lived.

[3WE]

Originally Posted by TeeVee

yes, but did you follow the QRH? Use your memory items (yoke detachment: 1) place head between legs. 2) kiss ass good-bye)? if not, you failed even if you lived.

Total failure indeed. Additionally, I departed with an inoperative trim switch on the yoke, and wasn't paying much attention to my exact airspeed- but I had a healthy attitude/AOA.

[TheKiecker]

Lets not rush to judgement here..

Once the CVR transcript is released we will know more. (unless of course 3WE is in France)

[Gabriel]

Did that heppen before or after the vertical approach?

[3WE]

Originally Posted by TeeVee

yes, but did you follow the QRH? Use your memory items...

Memory items for catastrophic failures:
1) Push the "P" button on the keyboard.
2) Think of how you are smarter than so many real pilots, since you are following the perfect, and correct memory checklist items...
3) Open QRH and look up the problem.
4) Address problem appropriately.

Of course if you see nothing but blue- it's not excessive nose up attitude, it's Microsoft's Blue Screeen of death....

THEN put your head between your legs...

[TheKiecker]

Thats pretty cool.. So did you realized the de-icers were off before or after you ate the 14th Street Bridge ?

And did your boyfriend/co-pilot come running out of the bathroom with his pants around his ankles yelling " What is THIS ? "

[brianw999]

LOL

.....but slightly seriously....

Aviate, navigate, communicate as I recall is the proper way to handle an emergency....which is exactly what you did.

Shame real aircraft don't have a "pause" key ?

[3WE]

Originally Posted by TheKiecker

Thats pretty cool.. So did you realized the de-icers were off before or after you ate the 14th Street Bridge ?

The one truly frightening thing I did in MSFS was to program a 35 kt South wind above 900 feet and a 35 kt North wind below 700 feet....

I then proceeded to fly into DFW's 17C in a DC-10 (Not exactly right, but a 3-hole jumbo).

It really really REALLY bugged me when I gently touched down in a field about 2000 feet short of the runway.

(and I knew what the winds were going to do!)

[TheKiecker]

Wrong bridge ...

Thanks for playing.

GAME OVER

[3WE]

Originally Posted by TheKiecker

Wrong bridge ...

And the wrong question.

[Moose135]

Originally Posted by brianw999

Shame real aircraft don't have a "pause" key ?

I've thought the same thing on a few occasions!