Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 544; Flight Crew Type 500
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Incursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Aircraft
I was cleared for the 'Option' and turning final for left traffic for Runway 2L intending to make a low approach or touch and go. On turn to final there was a sudden smell of smoke along with a 'puff' of smoke that came from the lower part of the instrument panel. I told the Tower I had smoke in the cockpit. I believe I then told them this would be a full stop.Since I had not intended on terminating this approach with a full stop I was high for Runway 2L. I could not sidestep to 2R as there was another plane on final for that runway. I slipped the plane to make the runway; but noted I would be required to use extremely hard braking after touchdown in order to stop prior to end of Runway 2L. I was approaching the intersection of Runway 34 and 2L and; knowing it was not in use; opted to make a last minute turn just prior to touchdown and land on 34. I do not believe the Tower gave me further instructions after my clearance for the option or whether they called me after I had shut down the electrical and radios. I believe I made a transmission of intent; but quite frankly do not remember if I had already turned off my avionics master and master per memory checklist items for smoke in cockpit. I landed and stopped by Taxiway H and cleared the runway. With radios now off I did not want to risk fire by turning them back on to contact Ground or Tower. Fortunately on this day we had flight line marshalers on the ramp immediately across Taxiway B. With no aircraft parked or moving between me in that area and after checking there were no other aircraft around me or on Bravo I elected to taxi my plane to parking via the marshalers.I do not think anything could have been done to prevent the issue and felt it was handled without any danger to me or others.
A small aircraft pilot; anticipating a low approach found himself high for a safe landing when smoke in the cockpit made a full stop landing on the short runway a necessity. As he approached the intersection of a longer runway he opted to align with and land on it. He was unable to communicate with the Tower as a result of unpowering the radios in response to the electrical smoke event.