howdy...well unlike the majority of ya's down south who are still flying in t-shirt and looking at fall colors, us north of the 60th have been hunting and flying in snow for the past 3 weeks! So, there's quite a bit of snow on lake side pastures that I landed on this summer, some places maybe not so much I don know other than trying to judge from the willows/rocks/animal tracks that you can see pertruding from the ground...

I'm just curious, those of you who have landed in the snow on wheels, how deep was the snow and how "under control" were you...and surely, how was the take off roll? I'd like to go try out few snow landings before I get skis (looking at a nice set of Kehlers 2700...buddy doesnt have paperwork for them so he cant put them on his "certified" cessna... shame beauty of owning a home built ) Oh yeah, the tundra sits on 8.50's

Happy safe flying!

Cheers, BCT

Depends on the snow. Up here where most times it is very dry, light and fluffy I've plowed through 12 inches of the fresh stuff on both takeoff and landing, on 8.50x6 tires. But that's after I kicked it around myself first, on the ground. Use soft field techniques.

In the spring I'm very aware of the danger of breakup snow and ice conditions. Not interested in a noseover myself

I think half the axle height is okay, anything more than that and you're pushing it. I've seen too many flop pictures of snow landings. Had a attention getter myself last winter too (pre bushwheels).

Stick back and get ready to add power!

How confident are you in the surface beneath the snow? That's the first issue. In the early season the freeze-thaw routine can change up a non-prepared surface in a strange manner. Be careful.

Second, the effect of different depths of snow is dependent entirely on the nature of the snow. A hard crust developed on top of snow that is 1/2 axle height will get your attention. I have a PA-22 with 6.00x6s. For winter landings on lakes, I will do two or three drags to check the surface and get a feel for the snow, intentional go-arounds where I drag surface for a couple hundred feet. In general, I have found that if I can see the color of the ice through the snow, I can make it work comfortably. If I can't see the color of the ice, I haven't ended up stopping, the drags were enough to suggest I shouldn't. Where I have ended up landing, I generally have found snow less than 2". I have smaller tires, so your results may differ. But be careful out there.

Landing in the snow where your at is no different then landing here. The snow is dry and easy to judge in some cases. When I land in the snow , I come in low and slow. Add a little power just before touching down. Keep the yoke back and go easy on the brakes. One of the problems is getting your brakes to hot watch then will freeze up . I try not to use the brakes for that reason. I make a long approach and flair just before landing like any short field landing. I have the 31 inch bush wheels and tail wheel what makes my plane float in the snow. I have landed in 8 inch of snow and more. Know your plane and your limits. Keep the yoke back... Take care my friend and safe flying..

Ken in Alaska

Hello BCT,
No snow here yet, even at the higher elevations. That will change in November. I think big tires do help in snow, but there is a point where even with tundra tires you can end up on your nose. One day I landed on about two to three feet of hard snow where I had been landing before. Well it was above freezing that particular day and that really got my attention.
Anyway I'm looking forward to puting my wheel skis back on December 1st or so. Should be a good season of coyote hunting out on the Palouse. I'll be up in Fairbanks on Nov 2-4 giving some 135 helicopter checks to an EMS outfit.

Take care,

James

The only variable that's worth considering when it comes to landing in snow is the consistency of the snow, and that WILL change from day to day, from season to season, etc.

I've landed in over a foot of snow, after I had landed at a nearby airport and walked around to verify the general character of the snow. In really light, fluffy snow, it's no big deal, regardless of tire size.

But, be careful, because that snow can hide all sorts of evils.....including differences in consistency, and a little bit of crust and/or sloppy snow, like you sometimes see in early fall storms up north, and you'll be on your back before you can fix it.

MTV

I've landed stock Cessnas of various ilk (all nose draggers) several times over the years in up to 4" of snow, including one a couple of years ago in my LRB which was what I'd call "crusty slush" at Kelly Airpark. The jerking back and forth on both the roll out and the subsesquent take-off was a bit of a thrill, but control was still sufficient. I wouldn't want to land or take off in more than that, with stock wheels/tires. A normal soft field method works.

Cary

Keep your insurance paid in full.

OregonMaule wrote:Keep your insurance paid in full.

Insurance....you guys fly wiht iNsurance

I know two different guys who nosed over their airplanes landing in snow that was just a tad too deep- one Cub, one Husky. Both were on airstrips- one paved, one not.

Really depends on the snow conditions....I have landed in snow that was about 3/4 of the way up the wheel.(850's) the condition of the snow was super cold and fluffy.No crust ....Takeoff was a bit longer than usual.I landed in about half as much snow and got stuck because the snow was super crusty and a touch hollow underneath due to some sagebrush.......The CRUSTY snow will get you! Look in my photo album and you will see the Get stuck photos

And....just because you took off or landed in the same snow, a few hours later it can be totally different! Any back country skier can attest to how fast snow can change as the day goes on.

just saying...

Holy! is that you!!

patrol guy wrote:just saying...

Dude, get out of the plane before trying to make snow angels

It all depends on the condition of the snow. I walk the field OR get a reputable report first. Regardless of what the surface looks like, the crap underneath is what can get you into trouble.

I then like to "feel" the field first by doing a low speed aborted takeoff run, then a medium speed run then, a high speed run. If I can't keep my tail down, there is too much bouncing, or the snow is too grabby I go find some hot chocolate (spiked with peppermint schnapps of course).

courierguy wrote:And....just because you took off or landed in the same snow, a few hours later it can be totally different! Any back country skier can attest to how fast snow can change as the day goes on.

I remember a post or two from last year. You did have a couple of challenging situations, didn't you?

patrol guy wrote:just saying...

Here ya go:
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief ... 0433&key=1

Get Ski's!!! no matter if they are expensive it will still be cheaper than a REBUILD!!!!