Is It Possible to Land a Plane Without Its Rear Wheels?

Does the question Is it possible to land a plane without its rear wheels? mean the wheels are completely malfunctioning, or just not deployed? The reality is, with proper procedures and external safety measures, it is often possible for an aircraft to land safely with compromised landing gear.

Understanding Wheel Malfunction

Aircraft wheels can fail for various reasons, such as blown tires, tire fires, or mechanical issues. Those situations often lead to a gear-up landing, where the aircraft touches down without all landing gear extended. The primary concern in such scenarios is ensuring the safety of the occupants and the aircraft itself.

Successful Gear-Up Landings

There have been many instances where aircraft safely landed despite the rear wheels being compromised or not functioning. Videos and discussions from these events demonstrate that using external safety measures can significantly improve the chances of a safe landing. For example, in cases with blown tires, the aircraft may need to perform a belly landing, which involves touching down on the belly of the aircraft, often making a lot of noise and causing fires. Such events are dangerous due to the risk of smoke inhalation and structural damage, which is a number one killer in these incidents.

Comparing Gear-Up and Gear-Down Landings

When considering a gear-up landing against a gear-down landing, the former is often considered safer. Here are the reasons why:

Risk of Yaw and Wing Tip Damage: With only one wheel down and locked, the aircraft is more likely to yaw forcibly around the lowered landing gear, which could cause the wing tip to touch the ground, leading to a much more serious crash. Conversely, a gear-down landing with both wheels fully down and locked is less likely to result in such an event. Aircraft Centering: In a two-wheel gear-up landing, the aircraft's rudder can help keep the plane centered on the runway until a full stop, resulting in less structural damage to the aircraft and reducing serious trauma to passengers. Minimized Structural Impact: By having both wheels down and locked, the aircraft experiences a more stable landing, reducing the risk of severe structural damage to the fuselage and increasing the chances of a successful post-landing inspection and reuse of the aircraft.

Conclusion

While it is challenging to land an aircraft with compromised landing gear, it is often possible to do so safely. It is crucial to follow proper procedures and use available external safety measures. Notably, landing on a grass strip or with water as a runway may be more favorable under such circumstances.