Piper Meridian (4K), VERY Unusual REVERSE Thrust Parking

A very hot day (34° C) at the empty Lucca Airport (LIQL), Tuscany, Italy. After first confirming a parking position near the tiny terminal building for loading purposes, the tower revised its clearance and insisted on a remote parking position. In order to avoid the uneven grass surface and a possible propeller damage, Markus preferred to roll backwards to the suggested parking position using reverse thrust ...
Pilot: Markus Riedel

[@MrSuzuki1187]

I just did this very thing parking my Pilatus PC-12NG on the south FBO ramp at Punta Gorda, Florida. I've done it many times in King Airs and the Beech 99. The PT6 engine with reversing propellers is great safety feature for landing on short or very slick runways where wheel brakes may not work well or need assistance in stopping. I was the copilot on the Beech 99 back in 1973 when my captain landed on a runway coated with clear ice and never touched the brakes. He used differential reverse thrust when the airplane tried to turn left and kept it straight with a total lack of traction due to the ice. If backing up using reverse thrust, it is imperative the pilot deploy the inertial separators prior to backing to prevent rocks and other debris from entering the engine's compressor section. You also need to avoid stopping by using the brakes, as this could cause the airplane to do a wheelie and strike the tail on the ground. You stop rearward movement by bringing the engine, or engines, out of reverse and into forward thrust, not touching the brakes.

[@wolfgangkarner]

Great explanation, Joel! You might know the Meridian's inertial separator is always activated, it can't be deacivated like in a TBM etc. ... ;-)

[@huh4233]

Beta thrust very cool!

[@HansvandeVen]

Be carefull sucking up little stones when moving on the apron like this. Can harm your propeller blades.

[@wolfgangkarner]

Propeller blades are always sucking up tiny particles - no matter if you are moving forwards or backwards. I think this has almost no effect on the propeller blades - at most it contributes to the usual wear and tear. Propeller blades also have a certain lifespan only. We were sure that using the uneven gras surface was by far more risky than rolling backwards with little power.

[@gcrauwels941]

@@wolfgangkarner I would guess he had the inertial separator on at least.

[@wolfgangkarner]

@@gcrauwels941 The Meridian doesn't have an inertial separator to deactivate like the TBM. It is always ON in the Meridian ... ;-)

[@gcrauwels941]

@@wolfgangkarner Interesting!!👍

[@grahamking1036]

I saw this badass in a King Air 350 do this a couple times.

[@wolfgangkarner]

:-)

[@pascalcoole2725]

Don't hitthe breakes doning this ! Believe it or not, it can cause tip-over.. Yupp a tail-strike on reverse.

[@wolfgangkarner]

you are absolutely right. Therefore steering during rolling backwards isn't easy ...

[@berndl]

Italian bureaucracy…

[@wolfgangkarner]

"un po' di confusione" :)))

[@wolfgangkarner]

Rear view mirrors recommended ;-)