A scary experience

Thad E Ginathom · 10th February 2009, 22:58

While the car is airborne, there is nothing you can do except hope it continues in the same direction when it hits the ground --- which it should, as long as nothing breaks, and the surface is good.

If I recall correctly, the advice for skidding, aquaplaning and the like is feet off --- everything.

Quote:

Experts, need your input on how to bring back the airborne car back to ground.

Hmm... It would be remarkable only if it didn't return to the ground!

Did you fly for long enough to think about it? Serious question, because I'd doubt that you would, and if you did, I'd seriously offer the advice to pray that the car is still in one piece after hitting the ground.

watashi75 · 11th February 2009, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise

Experts, need your input on how to bring back the airborne car back to ground.

Well, this is my understanding. If you are airborne and you press the brakes there is a chance that the wheels will lock up as you touch down. In ABS cars the behavior is uncertain, and depends on the ABS firmware. Infact rally drivers make it a point to disable ABS.

The other reason is that most Indian cars are front heavy. So usually the front lands before the rear. Braking in this situation is the same as braking at potholes and speed breakers - the weight of the car transfers to the front and it puts lot of stress on the front suspensions and axle, besides giving a hard jerk.

madan80 · 11th February 2009, 10:16

i remember the bridge quite vividly myself as I went airborne in an indica at about 130. sadly, i was strapped in, whereas a OHC who also hit the same spot was not. He veered to the left and stopped as i think there was a kid in the car.

It is one really CRAZY bridge, i dont know why they have not repaired it. The funny thing is that EVERY one slows down towards the top- you will always see the L boards clipping up the bridge only to either bottom out (if they are fully loaded) or lift off!

Blur · 11th February 2009, 11:57

Surprise, thank goodness you and your family made it out all ok.

There's a lesson to be learnt here bud. It pays to be patient!

Let me illustrate with two examples of my own.

1.
Was driving along the NH17, following an ST bus. Had tried a move a couple of times, but the bugger just wasn't ready to budge. Was at my wits end!
Saw a turn coming up. It was pretty wide, and there wasn't any oncoming vehicle. So swung out for the overtake.

The ST bus, too, swung wide for some reason . And before I knew it we were within kissing distance. Some last minute maneuvering saved the day!
The ST bus stopped soon afterwards. And i moved ahead easy.

2.
Was following a truck down a narrow ghat. Wanted to pull a move so swung out, only to realise that the truck being empty was going at a fair clip. This would have made it extremely risky to overtake. So tucked back in.
Five minutes later we hit a straight stretch and the truck was a mere speck in the rearview.

Bout the airborne bit. Nothing much you can do in the air ya. No contact, no control! Maybe brake lightly after landing to rein in your speed.

Spitfire · 11th February 2009, 12:04

How much time will one save by overtaking a slow moving vehicle taking so many risks?

Next time you are about to try something crazy like this, think about it.

If you are ready to wait an oppurtunity will come up quite soon.

Its really not worth risking so much for gaining 5-10 mins over total travel time.

kaushik_s · 11th February 2009, 13:34

Hey Guys,
As this bridge in question is a potential hazard point, can someone please take the pain to locate it on Google Maps, mark it and post it here? It'll be really helpful for the forum members who plans for a trip on that road and a first timer.
Regards,

Blur · 11th February 2009, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

As this bridge in question is a potential hazard point, can someone please take the pain to locate it on Google Maps, mark it and post it here?

Hey, that's a really cool idea.

In fact, I suggest each of us take the responsibility to mark out the routes we regularly take. We could have codes, e.g. RED/BLACK FLAG for dangerous areas like this bridge.

What say Mods?

vnabhi · 11th February 2009, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise

Experts, need your input on how to bring back the airborne car back to ground. No, Iam not going to repeat what I have done, just wanted to educate myself on this. As Wat, as pointed out that we need to accelerate and not to brake at those situations

This question is best put to pilots, IMO

.

BTW, thanks for sharing your experience, and thank your stars you came out unscathed.

bblost · 11th February 2009, 15:11

If you hit the ground with your tires locked up then you will burn them out.
Like how we use erasers on paper.

Our vehicles have either FWD or RWD. So if you are accelerating then either the front or the rear will be spinning faster than the other.

I think the best thing to do is do nothing.
Keep the car in whatever gear it was or maybe one up.
keep the steering straight and brace for impact.

as soon as you land speed up.
Once control is attained stop and inspect the vehicle.

amitoj · 11th February 2009, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise

Experts, need your input on how to bring back the airborne car back to ground.

Sorry but cant resist anymore

You dont need to do anything to bring an airborne car back to ground. Gravity will do the trick for you. Unless your car has wings aerodynamically designed to take off!

Best thing to do is brace for impact!! And pray.

Btw, best time to overtake a vehicle from inside when its on a curve is when it has crossed the apex. Before apex, the gap between the vehicle and edge of the road will keep on decreasing.

Thad E Ginathom · 11th February 2009, 17:18

I'm glad somebody else shares my faith in gravity

I'll say again (It might have got lost in the moved linguistic posts) --- if you have time to even think about it, best to pray. Otherwise, hands off everything. Except keep the wheel straight.

mobike008 · 11th February 2009, 17:55

@Surprise, without meaning any offense and simply on a light note, allow me say that your question of how to bring back an airborne car back on ground should be entered into one of those popular IQ quiz on tv and i am sure a lot of genius kids/adults would wrack their brains to answer this one

hrag · 11th February 2009, 18:11

You wouldn't have been airborne for more than a few feet / seconds. It is scary no doubt but nothing to worry about. Now that you know where this hot spot is, you WILL slow down the next time you see this bridge, believe me.

Real airborne is on the NICE corridor between Bannerughatta Road and Kanakapura Road in Bangalore, if you don't slow down in time before the steep downhill stretch.

Surprise · 11th February 2009, 18:33

Thanks for letting me know that car will land back due to gravity

Thad E Ginathom, you are absolutely right that even before you realize you are grounded back. Just wanted to find out whether even applying slight brake after landing would be of any consequences. Though I have did that safely, wanted to check out.

Blur · 11th February 2009, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

Real airborne is on the NICE corridor between Bannerughatta Road and Kanakapura Road in Bangalore, if you don't slow down in time before the steep downhill stretch.

Don't they have a warning board for the steep downhill? They have them on the road to my village. And that's only a SH, I guess.

11th February 2009, 10:16	#33
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	i remember the bridge quite vividly myself as I went airborne in an indica at about 130. sadly, i was strapped in, whereas a OHC who also hit the same spot was not. He veered to the left and stopped as i think there was a kid in the car. It is one really CRAZY bridge, i dont know why they have not repaired it. The funny thing is that EVERY one slows down towards the top- you will always see the L boards clipping up the bridge only to either bottom out (if they are fully loaded) or lift off!
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 11:57	#34
Blur BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 173 Thanked: 19 Times	Surprise, thank goodness you and your family made it out all ok. There's a lesson to be learnt here bud. It pays to be patient! Let me illustrate with two examples of my own. 1. Was driving along the NH17, following an ST bus. Had tried a move a couple of times, but the bugger just wasn't ready to budge. Was at my wits end! Saw a turn coming up. It was pretty wide, and there wasn't any oncoming vehicle. So swung out for the overtake. The ST bus, too, swung wide for some reason . And before I knew it we were within kissing distance. Some last minute maneuvering saved the day! The ST bus stopped soon afterwards. And i moved ahead easy. 2. Was following a truck down a narrow ghat. Wanted to pull a move so swung out, only to realise that the truck being empty was going at a fair clip. This would have made it extremely risky to overtake. So tucked back in. Five minutes later we hit a straight stretch and the truck was a mere speck in the rearview. Bout the airborne bit. Nothing much you can do in the air ya. No contact, no control! Maybe brake lightly after landing to rein in your speed.
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 12:04	#35
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,313 Thanked: 777 Times	How much time will one save by overtaking a slow moving vehicle taking so many risks? Next time you are about to try something crazy like this, think about it. If you are ready to wait an oppurtunity will come up quite soon. Its really not worth risking so much for gaining 5-10 mins over total travel time.
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 13:34	#36
kaushik_s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,089 Thanked: 164 Times View My Garage	Hey Guys, As this bridge in question is a potential hazard point, can someone please take the pain to locate it on Google Maps, mark it and post it here? It'll be really helpful for the forum members who plans for a trip on that road and a first timer. Regards,
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 15:11	#39
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,097 Thanked: 16,254 Times View My Garage	If you hit the ground with your tires locked up then you will burn them out. Like how we use erasers on paper. Our vehicles have either FWD or RWD. So if you are accelerating then either the front or the rear will be spinning faster than the other. I think the best thing to do is do nothing. Keep the car in whatever gear it was or maybe one up. keep the steering straight and brace for impact. as soon as you land speed up. Once control is attained stop and inspect the vehicle.
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 17:18	#41
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,197 Thanked: 28,193 Times	I'm glad somebody else shares my faith in gravity I'll say again (It might have got lost in the moved linguistic posts) --- if you have time to even think about it, best to pray. Otherwise, hands off everything. Except keep the wheel straight.
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 17:55	#42
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,814 Thanked: 15,597 Times View My Garage	@Surprise, without meaning any offense and simply on a light note, allow me say that your question of how to bring back an airborne car back on ground should be entered into one of those popular IQ quiz on tv and i am sure a lot of genius kids/adults would wrack their brains to answer this one
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 18:11	#43
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 32 Times	You wouldn't have been airborne for more than a few feet / seconds. It is scary no doubt but nothing to worry about. Now that you know where this hot spot is, you WILL slow down the next time you see this bridge, believe me. Real airborne is on the NICE corridor between Bannerughatta Road and Kanakapura Road in Bangalore, if you don't slow down in time before the steep downhill stretch.
	() Thanks

11th February 2009, 18:33	#44
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,528 Thanked: 459 Times	Thanks for letting me know that car will land back due to gravity Thad E Ginathom, you are absolutely right that even before you realize you are grounded back. Just wanted to find out whether even applying slight brake after landing would be of any consequences. Though I have did that safely, wanted to check out.
	() Thanks