Sweeping Under Props

[Doc]

I was in YPM today. The ramp looked like a bunch of really pissed off badgers had been out there looking for food. There were little sweep spots everywhere. I know it's SOP for Wasaya, but has anybody done any scientific research on sweeping vs. not sweeping? I've got probably as much gravel time as anybody on this site, and I never sweep. I've never picked up more stones than those who do sweep. In fact, I find just the opposite to be true. You sweep away the heavy stones, leaving the light ones to damage the props. I've always found that a very gentle application of power, from a slight downhill "lie" to be the best defense against prop damage. That, and once you start to move....stay moving. I don't even power up till I've made the "calls" and I know the coast is clear for a departure.
Thoughts?

[tired of the ground]

I've never been on gravel that was a true gravel ramp. We just had compressed dirt with a smattering of rocks on top of it. I noticed quite a difference between sweeping and not.

I could see however that a couple of inches of gravel wouldn't benefit from sweeping.

[HuD 91gt]

My props are so beat to sh*t I can't tell if it help's or not :p

[timbuck]

I agree Doc... sweeping don't help.

[just curious]

I sweep. Then I start in fine,move to beta as the prop unfeathers, use the condition levers to bring up N1 for the generators,and wait till both are up and running before they come out of beta.

[just curious]

Of course, I also carry maps,and use an astrocompass. I'm not gonna let paving stones,and GPS's take over my life.

Yesterday's technology tomorrow, that's my motto.

[osprey]

I've found that if I'm on a start pad than defiantly sweep that clean, or if the ground under the stones is rock hard. If its just going to get some smaller loose stuff exposed than no. Most important as said before never stop once moving.

[Youngback]

I can usually tell just by looking at whats under the props if it will get sucked up or not and if it will, it gets cleared out of there. I'll start in feather if it's a loose surface and then be ready to roll as soon as I come out of feather. With how close my props are to the ground, I've found even in Beta there is a little vortex that is enough to suck stuff up b/c the props come up another 400 to 500 RPM. The vortex coming out of feather is going to happen regardless but is the lesser of the two evils than running in beta.

For stopping, never put it in feather before you shut down. ICO then feather as the props are spooling down. No vortex that way. I've seen a King Air 200 suck 3 inches of smooth ice off the ground feathering the props with the engines still running. Scared the shit out of the pilots as the props batted the ice against the nose and took a few chunks out of their prop.

[Doc]

Same. I like to start in feather as well. BTW, I shut them down while I'm still rolling.

[Youngback]

FWIW, I havn't had a nick in a year and a half now. Sure the paint gets worn off from the dust and sand and all the other stuff that can't be helped but the money eaters have stopped.

[Cat Driver]

Jesus Doc you must really be bored these days.

[glorifiedtaxidriver]

Its not always easy to find a downward slope to park on. Especially if Walstens is parked smack in the middle of the ramp.

[Cat Driver]

Its not always easy to find a downward slope to park on. Especially if Walstens is parked smack in the middle of the ramp.

Doc, you are a genius at bringing out the best in this group.....my hero used to be Bob Hoover but you are winning me over.

[Doc]

I should hope so! I taught Bob everything I know....

[lucky37]

What does everyone fly and what is the prop clearance?

[Cat Driver]

I fly this.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... ate039.jpg

And I never have to sweep the stones under the props.

[Ref Plus 10]

Force of habit dictates i always sweep, but it feels kinda futile when the captain then feels the need to apply brakes to turn sharper than the aircraft allows with an empty ramp ahead...I still cringe when I hear the pebbles impacting the side of the plane.

[B-rad]

.

[Cat Driver]

Yeh, that is a retractable hardtop convertible.....

....there are lots of perks when flying in the airshow circuit in Europe.

[Cat Driver]

but it feels kinda futile when the captain then feels the need to apply brakes to turn sharper than the aircraft allows with an empty ramp ahead...I still cringe when I hear the pebbles impacting the side of the plane.

Cringe???? Jeses Christ you should refuse to fly with an idiot like that.

How can pilots expect to get paid a living wage if morons are causing so much damage to the machines that the operator is putting all the profits into repairing damage done by morons?

[Doc]

Cat, I witnessed one captain do a break stand till the water meth kicked in on a Hawker....on gravel. Then he went back to England to drive a double decker bus!

[TG]

Force of habit dictates i always sweep, but it feels kinda futile when the captain then feels the need to apply brakes to turn sharper than the aircraft allows with an empty ramp ahead...

Did you tell him ?

[just curious]

Yeah, but I forgave him.

[Ref Plus 10]

Much appreciated, but could you use the QRH to forgive me next time? It doesn't sting as much as the AFM to the ear

[Snowroller]

Hey JC,Ref plus 10 does such a fine job sweeping under the props,next time he comes by here I want to borrow him for an hour to sweep our hanger