Thread: Landing and taking off gravel roads

Anyone have advice on taking off from a gravel road? Will it hurt the prop, oil cooler, paint on nose wheel pant etc?

I operated alot on gravel strips the 40 years I lived and flew in Alaska. If you do much of it, you will ding your prop and tailfeathers. You can minimize the damage but it will happen.
1. Bigger tires are better. I hope you have the tundra gear.
2. Do not do a run up on gravel. Ever! If you really must, do it at a fast taxi.
3. try not to park where you have to use alot of power to get moving. Manual labor (pushing) saves props.
4. Apply power slowly, no big bursts of power to get moving.
5. Stick always in your gut when you taxi.
6. Use flaps on take off. You want off the ground soonest.
7. Use all your flaps for landing. You want to touch down slowest.
8. No heavy braking on touch down. You can easily throw rocks ahead into the prop.
9. You want to be into the wind as much as possible. The prop will kick up the small stuff and if the wind is on the tail it will blow forward into the prop.
10. I've never seen a horizontal stabilizer abraision boot on a CT but if you can put one one you should do it. Get FD approval first.
11. Shouldn't hurt your oil cooler but you will see dings in the paint and prop. Will probably put some dings in the belly too as rocks are thrown. You will probably see wheel pant damage over time. Most bush planes do not have wheel pants.
12. If you have to turn around on gravel, as in you taxi to the end of the take off area then turn around into the wind, keep it moving. If you can't do that, get out and turn it around.
The last airplane I had in AK was a C-206. I flew it off gravel for 18 years and never did more than minor dings to the prop following the above advice. Just before I sold it I had the prop overhauled and the original blades were still good top go. I did see alot of damage to rental planes but most owners, having to pay the bills, soon learn what not to do.

Good luck.

I have operated my CTsw from gravel runways regularly over the past 3 years. I applied 3M leading edge tape to the stabilator (with FD approval) and it has protected the leading edge extremely well. (see here http://www.ctflyer.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... +edge+tape )
Since I took this photo, it has yellowed quite a bit but does not detract from the appearance.

I have had to repaint the front of the nose-wheel fairing (pant) a couple of times due to stone damage however the prop has not sustained any significant damage. The only other item of note has been a few tiny chips to the paintwork of the leading edge of the left wing......and easily filled using a very fine paint brush.

I do have the Tundra wheels.

I'd worry about your prop.

Doug

Thanks guys. So far at 346 hrs this prop appears to be indestructible. Our Columbia 350 operating out of the same blacktop runway looks like hell with 280 hrs. I cant even find a knick or scratch on this CTLS prop. I will use all the suggested techniquies. I did a touch and go on a gravel road for the first time the other day and noticed some dust and fines in the tail cone the next day. I didnt like that!

Yes I agree Scrapman....my prop is fine......no abrasion or damage and yet I share a hangar with a Vans 7 with a metal prop that uses gravel quite alot and he is forever busy with a metal file!
Can't avoid the gravel in this part of the world.......don't have the luxury of grass or paved runways everywhere.