Can a large airliner land safely on a grass runway if long enough?

Question

Can a large airliner like the 747, or maybe smaller land safely on a grass runway if its long and wide enough? If yes and there is someplace in the word like that, can you tell me where or show me pictures.

Answer 1

No. The planes weigh too much and landing in grass/dirt would cause the plane to possibly sink under its own weight. Also, the uneven nature of the runways could be potentially dangerous.

Answer 2

It depends on your definition of "safely". In a situation where absolutely no other option exists, an airliner MIGHT be able to make a controlled emergency landing somewhere other than a runway. BUT: the landing gear specifically and the aircraft construction generally are not designed for this event and although with luck such a landing may be "surviveable" for some passengers, the aircraft would not be flyable afterwards.
Definition: A GOOD landing is one you can walk away from.
A GREAT landing is one where you can use the aircraft again.

Answer 3

A grass strip is a place no sane pilot would routinely land a 747. In an emergency, all bets are off. It is better than a forest or a field strewn with boulders. Additionally I can almost guarantee the aircraft will receive significant damage. BTW, launching the bird on that same strip of grass would be equally dicey.

Trained an experienced aircraft accident investigator.

Answer 4

in an emergency - yes - never been done in a 747 (and would be VERY difficult and probably damage the aircraft)

Here is an example of a successful 737 emergency landing on grass: picture link below

24 May 1988; TACA 737-300; near New Orleans, LA: The aircraft was approaching the New Orleans airport when it encountered heavy precipitation, including hail up to 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter. The aircraft experienced a dual engine flameout at about 16,200ft due to water ingestion, and the flight crew were able to establish emergency electrical power at about of 10,500ft. The crew was unsuccessful in their attempts to restart the engines, and had to execute an emergency landing on a grass strip on a levee on the Intercoastal Waterway (after initially planning to ditch the aircraft on the waterway). The flight crew successfully made an unpowered landing and none of the 45 occupants were injured. The aircraft was repaired and flown off the levee.


http://www.warman.demon.co.uk/anna/taca.jpg

Answer 5

your answer is yes as long as its wide enough and long enough. and not too rutted. It also depends on the exact aircraft. Small planes do it all the time. It would not be a landing a large aircraft could then take off from because it would, more then likley damage the aircraft. This type of landing would usually be made gear up and "belly slided" Nothing like a few ton aircraft sticking landing gear into soft earth to make it cart wheel or have the landing gear snap off. It would only be in grave emergency situations leaving you no other choice. The real question is why do you want to know and maybe people would be more helpful.

Answer 6

Yes, it would be possible in the case of an emergency. If you have no other options you can land a plane anywhere you want. Having the plane survive the landing in a usable condition is highly unlikely, though. Like some others have said, it would sink into the ground and rip off the landing gear and anything else under the fuselage such as wing mounted engines.

Answer 7

Depends on what you define as "safely".

Will the passengers live: yes, as the pilot can do a gear-up belly landing. And if he does it gently enough everybody will live.

Will the plane fly again: seriously doubt it. Modern jets don't enjoy belly landings, as such landings invariably will rip the engines off the wings and such. And there's no way a gear-down landing will be attempted as grassy ground is too soft to handle the weight of airliner. You'll tear off the landing gear and cause even MORE problems.

Answer 8

300 kts is way faster than they would go in a situation where the flaps fail... They would fly the approach only a few kts over the stall speed and that would be in the low 200's for a 747.... that would allow the gear to be depolyed and with full braking, spoilers, and thrust reversers, I dont think anyone would get hurt... they may run off the end of the runway however... Note that 747's dont typically land at "average" sized runways anyway... and in a "flap" emergency, they would be able to find a runway long enough to accommodate them...

Answer 9

If there is evidence of grass, then there is moisture, which means the ground won't hold up. This would probably rip the landing gear off, especially the nose tires. This would be due to the smaller size contact area and more PSI of weight where the tread touches the ground.

On more stable ground, like an arid area, as said above. Sinking becomes more of a problem as the speed is reduced too. Even on hard pan, the aircraft would probably sink to the axles.

Answer 10

a large airliner can land on grass but only in an emergency eg all the engines have failed or the tail has stopped functioning properly. they do this by putting their landing gear up so the plane doesn't dig into the ground flipping it over and puting on reverse thrust. A grassy field that is long and wide enough could land a plane in theory but it depends on the surface and whether there are hills and valleys on it.