Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 500
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airport
While landing at the Winchester airport (BGF) on runway 18 at night with the runway lights set to medium intensity the new LED runway lights began to flash. As I continued the approach; I noted that the flashing was as a result of my fluctuating the propeller RPM. FYI; my airplane has a 3 bladed propeller. As I adjusted the propeller RPM on the approach; at in and around 22-2300 RPM; the runway lights could be dimmed to near off. As the RPM fluctuated; the flashing rate could be adjusted! At times of low visibility on a dark night; this could be catastrophic! When the pilot is just breaking out of the weather; the dimming or flashing of the runway lights could be conceived at re-entering the weather causing a go around.
Pilot reports of problems associated with landing and LED lights flashing while on final.