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  #11  
Old 12-14-2015, 11:05 PM
JDanno JDanno is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 440
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I was up at Lebanon, TN airport a couple of weeks ago. We were walking out to our RV-10 while I was admiring a new model Pilatus PC-12. Just as he fired up the engine I noticed that he had forgotten to remove the nose wheel chock. So I stood in front of the plane and started waving my arms to get the pilot's attention. Was pretty well ignored. When he applied power to taxi I got out of there. Fortunately the chock blew out from in front of the wheel and flew out the backside. So off they went blissfully ignorant of how close they came to damaging a VERY expensive prop.
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  #12  
Old 12-14-2015, 11:12 PM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
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Ha!!! That's exactly where I left the chocks in. Maybe it wasn't my mistake after all. Maybe M54 just has really enthusiastic chock elves that stick 'em back in while you're not looking.
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Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
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  #13  
Old 12-15-2015, 07:08 AM
esco esco is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 391
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During preflight (without any interruptions!), I decided to leave the locking tabs up on the fuel caps, so that when I taxied from the ramp, past the fuel farm, I would see the lifted tabs and be reminded to top off the tanks.
Besides, my pre-takeoff check is very, very thorough.

After starting and a cockpit scan, I asked, out of habit, to taxi directly to the runway; ground gave me permission. I taxied at a walking pace past the fuel farm, using very little brake, holding the stick full aft, 'cause I'm soooooo safety conscious.

As I warmed the engine, I boxed the controls (looking over the top of fuel caps), seeing only what I expected to see: full and appropriate aileron deflection.

After a normal takeoff, I checked in with ATC; cause I'm a thoughtful pilot, and SoCal airspace is busy. Four freq changes later, I'm in the vicinity of KONT when I see the blue stains, starting where my fuel caps should be...

(Note to self: after landing, I should have inspected the seats closely for any evidence of diamonds...) Oh, forgot to mention I was meeting my mother at the destination airport for lunch.

On returning home, I received the local "FUBAR award." This polished prop, bent from a groundloop, doesn't spin well, and has no names, dates, or infractions engraved (not enough room?), but it rolls very easily from winner to winner. I don't think there's been a 2nd award for the same error, so I have that going for me.
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VAF dues paid though exempt
RV-9A sold (I miss that bird!)
RV10 sold (miss that one too!)
RV-14A build underway
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  #14  
Old 12-15-2015, 09:42 AM
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dmaib dmaib is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Posts: 1,339
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Wheel chocks seem to be the most common in this thread. It has happened enough times to me that Mary always asks, just before engine start, "did we get the chocks?" Now that is an excellent co-pilot!

I washed the airplane last week and then took off for a fly-in breakfast Saturday AM and immediately noticed that my AOA was not working. I put tape over the static ports and the AOA ports when I wash the airplane. I had dutifully removed the tape from the static ports, but then got interrupted by questions from my passenger. So, forgot to get the AOA port tape. Certainly not an emergency, but one more example of being wary of getting interrupted during pre-flight, checklists, etc. Along the same lines as "I'll wait till just before XXXX before doing that", is skipping a checklist item and telling yourself you will go back and clear it just before XXXX.
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RV-10 N380DM
New Smyrna Beach, FL
VAF Paid 1/21/2020

"In '69 I was 21, and I called the road my own"
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  #15  
Old 12-15-2015, 09:44 AM
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txaviator txaviator is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arlington, TX (DFW)
Posts: 1,164
Default Brenham, TX

Recently bought a spam can in Brenham. Two huge 3-blade props were mangled, and laying on two wooden pallets, beside where my 'new' plane was stored.

I asked the mechanic at the FBO if those were from a gear up landing? He said: "Nope. A guy was about to taxi out in a King Air. Forgot to pull the chocks from under the gears. Instead of powering down and manually pulling the chocks, he decided to try and 'jump' them. The nose gear somehow collapsed from the forces, and of course both props hit the pavement".

Talk about a VERY expensive mistake! I forget the dollar figure he said the repairs cost, but it was well into the six figure range.

Moral of the story? Don't forget to pull your RV chocks during preflight!
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Gary Robertson
Arlington, TX

RV-12 Built / Sold / Flying
Currently Flying: Cessna Skyhawk 172
Rebuilding a true barn find J-3 Cub

Last edited by txaviator : 12-15-2015 at 09:48 AM.
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  #16  
Old 12-15-2015, 09:50 AM
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airguy airguy is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
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I've done the chocks once, left the oil door open once, and I've strapped in with doors closed once and reached for the ignition before realizing the keys were in my bag in the back.

We're human, we make mistakes. Best we can do is catch as many as we can and deal with the rest.
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Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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  #17  
Old 12-15-2015, 03:42 PM
Tooch Tooch is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Amelia, Va
Posts: 268
Default Tow bar

It had been a log time since I had a nosewheel plane. I bought a 7-A and should have done a final walk around before flight. So I taxiied and flew off with the tow bar attached. I don't know how it didn't come up and hit the prop on my grass strip. I found it later half way down the field. It must have fallen of on takeoff. Lesson learned, always do one final walk around before flight
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  #18  
Old 12-15-2015, 04:13 PM
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rv7boy rv7boy is offline
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Location: Austinville, Alabama
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Always remove the tow bar before yelling "CLEAR PROP!"
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Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!

?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
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  #19  
Old 12-15-2015, 07:46 PM
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wjb wjb is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 1,035
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Last steps of my checklist: 1) tiedowns removed (3 places), 2) roll the plane forward (double check chocks/tiedowns removed), 3) check fuel caps are secure.

Then, belt in and "clear prop".
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Bill Bencze
N430WB RV-7 #74152 @ KHAF, tip-up; IO-360-M1B; Hartzell CS. !! Phase 1 !!
2357 hrs over 8.5 years to get to flying. Log at: http://rv7.wbencze.com
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  #20  
Old 01-02-2016, 06:45 PM
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Vlad Vlad is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
Red face Here we go again

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyenforfun View Post
I've been flying since 1989


.....



but it just reminded me to pay attention and don't be distracted by others. So pay attention.

I came to the airport very early to do a light maintenance. Was almost done when a non flying neighbor stopped by to tell a story. I don't remember the story but do remember a missed fastener.

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Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей.
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