Netters, Not too long ago a kr-2 went down here in Washington. I understood it to be a fatality event. There were pics on the internet and a short video of an automobile tow truck trying to right the plane, which was tri-gear equipped and after landing in a (soft) field flipped over, I am guessing over the nose gear and prop.
Probably the resulting flopping down on the head, upside down would account for the fatality.. but that is a guess. There was no fire. I have seen videos of tailwheel and tri gear aircraft landing in water. Always with devastating results. It seems to me that the same aircraft landing in mud or a very soft field would give similar results. The gear grab ahold of the water or mud, and provide unsafe deceleration. After watching and reading this group for more than a year or two I have not seen this discussed. What of the safety provided by retracts in super soft field (mud) and water landings? At the last gathering, I met john Shafer who had put his kr down in a corn field gear up (his was the only flying example of trigear full retracts on a kr2).. He described sliding along the mud, corn stalks, and snow (with gear up) as a non-event compared to having to do the same thing in a fixed trike or tailwheel plane. I know alot of guys have the original retracts, and alot of guys shun them. But isin't being able to clean up the undercarriage (during a forced landing) a HUGE plus? especially for super soft field (mud) or water landings? All my forced landing here in western Washington are probably going to be within reach of water.. I think it's worth keeping retracts for, or making a tricycle set of retracts for... Any opinions to chime in here?? ANyone here put down in water with fixed gear? How did that work out? John Gotschall N611GB Puyallup, WA
