Might be BS

[klondike]

But if not WOW.  Picked up from my Quora feed.

I checked - seems it really is true - https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-03-mn-5933-story.html#:~:text=PORTLAND%2C%20Me.,an%20airline%20spokesman%20said%20today.

What type of aircraft mishap has only ever happened once in the whole history of aviation?

In September of 1987 a co-pilot made an emergency landing in Portland, Maine. What had happened was the hatch of the aircraft had flown open and it appeared that the pilot was sucked out and lost.

The airplane was a Beechcraft 99, a commuter craft that was capable of carrying 15 passengers but on this flight there was only a little bit of freight.


During the flight the co-pilot said he could hear an air leak in the passenger cabin. The pilot then got up and walked back in the passenger area to investigate and was looking around the exit hatch when the airplane hit turbulence and the pilot fell against the door. When he fell against the door, it opened and he seemingly flew out.

The co-pilot radioed the nearest airport about his emergency and was directed where to make his landing. When he landed he was amazed to find out that the pilot did not fall to his death but was in fact hanging on for dear life on the hand rails on the hatch door. He was hanging upside down with his head below the bottom of the door steps while the airplane was flying 190 miles per hour.

When the airplane landed the pilot's head was only a foot above the tarmac. It took the rescue crew five minutes to pry the pilot's hands off the railings, survival instinct for you.

The pilot's name was Henry Dempsey and the incident was dramatically re-enacted in the tv series Rescue 911.

[dextrous63]

Scary indeed.  Will try to locate the tv series.

[Scrumpy]

Someone (up there) was certainly watching over him..
 What a tale to tell his grandchildren....

[Mups]

Certainly an incredible story.   
The bit  I can't understand though is,  if he was hanging upside down,  he'd have had to hang on with his feet, not his hands, surely?    Don't get that.

[dextrous63]

Basic aerodynamics Mups.

[Mups]

Basic aerodynamics Mups.

Please explain.

If you were upside down, you'd be standing on your hands, not your feet.

[dextrous63]

Updraught, trying to blow you upwards off the plane.

[Mups]

Updraught, trying to blow you upwards off the plane.

Good job you weren't my teacher at school,  because I still haven't got a clue what you mean. 
 Logic says if you were upside down your head and hands would be dangling in space. Your feet would be nearest the plane.

[dextrous63]

Good job you weren't my teacher at school,  because I still haven't got a clue what you mean. 
 Logic says if you were upside down your head and hands would be dangling in space. Your feet would be nearest the plane.

Sorry, I'm not really trained to teach SEN pupils😬😬

[klondike]

Surely you've seen this example of updraught Mups?

[Mups]

Yes, I have seen that Marilyn picture, and yes,  that does explain an updraught.  But what I still can't see is the bit that said -

 . .   " He was hanging upside down with his head below the bottom of the door step" . .

I can't for the life of me see if someone was 'upside down'  how he could hold on with his hands, because his FEET would be uppermost.
Can't you see what I mean?     Am I going mad? 

[JBR]

Yes, I have seen that Marilyn picture, and yes,  that does explain an updraught.  But what I still can't see is the bit that said -

 . .  " He was hanging upside down with his head below the bottom of the door step" . .

I can't for the life of me see if someone was 'upside down'  how he could hold on with his hands, because his FEET would be uppermost.
Can't you see what I mean?    Am I going mad? 

No, not GOING mad!  (Sorry 🤣)
He was hanging on to the aeroplane by his hands, but his body was being blown upwards by the updraught to the extent that his feet were higher up than his hands.

[klondike]

↑
↑
↑
what he  said. Sort of.

This is a picture of the plane type involved. The hatch hinges down. He would have been hanging on to the interior handle/rail.

[Mups]

↑
↑
↑
what he  said. Sort of.

This is a picture of the plane type involved. The hatch hinges down. He would have been hanging on to the interior handle/rail.

At last!   A  decent explanation.   Thank you. 

[JBR]

I thought I had explained it clearly, but I now see that Mups finds pictures easier than words!  😉🤣