Case 3 recovery, why did I crash?

[DimSim]

I've tallied a hundred carrier landings, a dozen Case 3.
Twice however, I've ended up in the drink for reasons I'm not so sure.

It starts out looking good, still a mile from the boat, on speed and ILS looking good. Then suddenly the horizon line on the HUD moves up as if I'm about 300ft below water, and the altitude reading makes no sense. Confused, I add power and pull up. The second strange thing occurs then, the plane has auto-trimmed somehow, and I don't have enough pitch axis to counter it. After a brief battle with the aircraft, I end up in the water, well before the boat.

First time I just assumed I'd somehow gotten too slow and too low, but now I'm not so sure. Sorry no recording to show.

Has anyone else experienced this or have and idea what's going wrong?

Edited March 15, 2023 by DimSim

[razo+r]

Can you reproduce it in SP? Because then you could save the track and attach it here. Saying why you crashed without a track is very difficult in this case.

But speculating based on your description, I'd say you forget to manage the speed and then simply drop into the water.

Edited March 15, 2023 by razo+r

[Tusky]

It seems as if your altimeter Hg settings got modified (...altitude reading makes no sense...) and some form of A/P was engaged (reduced pitch authority). But as Razo+r said, without a track we will never know...

Edited March 15, 2023 by Tusky

[DimSim]

Thanks, I'll try to save a track next time.  The HUD altimeter and trim are the unusual things, since I have crashed this and other aircraft many times

I don't believe I had auto throttle engaged 1st time, and definitely did not use it at all 2nd time. Nor auto pilot (ie. attitude hold) since I was on final approach.

Edited March 15, 2023 by DimSim

[rob10]

Have you looked at BURBLE as a cause (do a search)?  If you're coming in slightly low and get caught in the burble you could get the sudden drop without enough time to recover.

[DimSim]

47 minutes ago, rob10 said:

Have you looked at BURBLE as a cause (do a search)?  If you're coming in slightly low and get caught in the burble you could get the sudden drop without enough time to recover.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm certain that both times I was still quite far from the boat. I believe the burble effect occurs right near the threshold, or at least much closer.