RV-6 Accident Near Shady Acres Airport, WA (3B8)

[D Weisgerber]

Originally Posted by AndyRV7

Anyone know how they got out? One of the big question marks in my mind if I have to try someday.

The article says they were trapped inside, they had help getting out.

[Desert Rat]

I realize that every accident is different, but overall, it seems that on an RV the best rollover mitigation is already there, i.e. the roll bar system.

This past summer, my friend flipped his RV6 on landing. He's gone public with this and has owned the fact that he must have landed with his feet on the brakes.

We were sitting in lawn chairs in the hangar on the other end of the 2500' grass strip watching him land and by the time we had hopped on a 4 wheeler and got up there, he had already kicked or punched his way through the broken canopy and was outside. I estimate that it took him less than 90 seconds to get out, even though a couple of minutes before that he had no clue that he was about to crash. He was by himself, maybe if there was another person in there getting out would have been harder, maybe not.

The roll bar deformed a little, but he's about 6' or so and didn't hit his head on anything. His only injuries were scraped shins from them hitting the underside of the panel and a few cuts and scrapes that he thinks he got from the plexiglass where he squirmed out. Nothing a few band aides couldn't fix.

I think that the RV is so short coupled that you're never going to be able to design out the potential for it to flip over, but seeing in person how well his held up put to rest any concerns I had about that particular characteristic.

I will say that I don't know how well I would have done in the same situation. I crawled back into the airplane to shut off the fuel and electrical, retrieve his glasses etc. and it was incredibly disorienting to have everything upside down.

[FLY6]

?Anyone know how they got out? One of the big question marks in my mind if I have to try someday.?

I went to see a RV7A after it had crashed. The pilot was alone and was able to wiggle out from under the plane but there was very little room. Can?t imagine how tough it would be if there were two soles on board.

[AndyRV7]

Yep, pretty much confirming my fears. I've never really been worried about the tip-over crushing the cockpit, but being unable to punch through the canopy and slither out is a whole different concern. I'm 6'3", so I may have more difficulty than some smaller-framed pilots.

[D Weisgerber]

Originally Posted by AndyRV7

Yep, pretty much confirming my fears. I've never really been worried about the tip-over crushing the cockpit, but being unable to punch through the canopy and slither out is a whole different concern. I'm 6'3", so I may have more difficulty than some smaller-framed pilots.

I agree with you, I have an RV6 and I'm 6'1". I have always thought that there would be enough room to crawl out as long as I can get the canopy out of the way.

[Sam Buchanan]

My concern is being upside-down in soft earth with reduced clearance between longerons and the ground......

[RV8JD]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

My concern is being upside-down in soft earth with reduced clearance between longerons and the ground......

Ditto. Regarding this particular RV accident, it should be noted that the area has had widespread heavy rain over the last couple of weeks, yielding flooding and saturated ground in many areas. A soggy field could have contributed to the flip over, as well as the airplane sinking into the ground a little making it difficult or impossible to exit without outside help. And getting older further hinders getting out under these circumstances.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

I realize that every accident is different, but overall, it seems that on an RV the best rollover mitigation is already there, i.e. the roll bar system.

This past summer, my friend flipped his RV6 on landing. He's gone public with this and has owned the fact that he must have landed with his feet on the brakes.

We were sitting in lawn chairs in the hangar on the other end of the 2500' grass strip watching him land and by the time we had hopped on a 4 wheeler and got up there, he had already kicked or punched his way through the broken canopy and was outside. I estimate that it took him less than 90 seconds to get out, even though a couple of minutes before that he had no clue that he was about to crash. He was by himself, maybe if there was another person in there getting out would have been harder, maybe not.

The roll bar deformed a little, but he's about 6' or so and didn't hit his head on anything. His only injuries were scraped shins from them hitting the underside of the panel and a few cuts and scrapes that he thinks he got from the plexiglass where he squirmed out. Nothing a few band aides couldn't fix.

I think that the RV is so short coupled that you're never going to be able to design out the potential for it to flip over, but seeing in person how well his held up put to rest any concerns I had about that particular characteristic.

I will say that I don't know how well I would have done in the same situation. I crawled back into the airplane to shut off the fuel and electrical, retrieve his glasses etc. and it was incredibly disorienting to have everything upside down.

Tip-up or Slider?

I ask because the rollbars are in different locations and and made of different material.

[donaziza]

Let me tell you guys a story I read a few years ago, right here on VAF. Some RV 6 driver flipped over, up somewhere in New England. Turns out he was fine, but where he flipped over was in a marshy area---water seeped in, and the pour guy drowned. The person writing the post here had gotten a small hackzall (or however you spell it)--to cut your way out. I since, have gotten a small Milwaukee Hackzall, and velcroed it in my plane. I was able to cut a solid steel ruler in half, (at HD) in about 90 seconds. So I'm "hoping" it would cut out the side of an RV like butter. People have said to me, "sparks" and spilled fuel. I'd rather take my chances with that, than maybe being trapped, upside down, forever.

I'd post a picture of it, but unfortunately, I'm picture challenged here on VAF.

[Desert Rat]

Originally Posted by N941WR

Tip-up or Slider?

I ask because the rollbars are in different locations and and made of different material.

it was a slider