Bryan Wood
Well Known Member
I just saw on the So. CA group a link that Dan C. has set up for accidents and another RV-9A has flipped over onto its back. Also there was an 8A out of Calistoga, CA that flipped over. This is really starting to concern me for several reasons, one of which is whether or not the airplane has a dangerous tendency. Another is insurance, or lack of it. I just got my renewel notice from Nation Air and notice that the underwriter will no longer write policies for RV's. Nation Air will still apparently be able to get insurance for me but the cost seems to be going up for all of us so rapidly.
I'm not trying to start an argument among us, but I am really curious how so many 9A's are ending up on their backs. Out of what, 165 or so flying now there are about 5 that have ended up with the wheels up and the canopy down. I don't know about the 6A's, 7A's, and 8A's but this seems like a very high number of accidents of this type for the amount of airplanes actually flying. This latest one had a first flight in Sept. of '03 according to a photo on Clay's RV-9A site which makes the pilot experienced in type with two years under his belt now. What is going on?
I now have 180 hours on my RV-9A and just had something happen for the first time Saturday that I'm wondering if anybody else flying an "A" configuration has had happen. I landed at Gustine, CA for fuel at around 1opm which is located in the Central Valley and it was around 90+ degrees outside. The elevation is close to sea level and there was a limp windsock during the landing. I held 75mph on final with full flaps and greased the mains on, and they literally chirped but there was no feeling of them touching down. My wife said good one and for the first time when I set the nosewheel down very soft there was this vibration/rubbing sound. I immediately pulled the nose back up and it quit. I set it back down and it did it again. Up one more time and held it until it wouldn't stay up any longer. This time it was okay when setting it down. At the fuel Island I checked tire pressure, looked for rubbing of the tire in the wheel pant, etc., no evidence of anything. I was all over this thing before leaving and could find no reason for the noise. Usually I fly this thing exactly like Mike Seager taught me to, which is to hold the nose up until elevator authority is almost gone and then to slowly set it down. This is the first time that I can remember setting it down so soon and am wondering if the the nosewheel started to shimmy like the Cessnas tend to do. I have landed at Tahoe and Reno which require a higher groundspeed to maintain the airspeed for final and the nosewheel never did this. Have any of you experienced anything like this? The plane taxied great after this, and I put several more take offs and landings this weekend without anymore issues. (Note: my wheelpants are cut out at least 3/8 to 1/2" wider than the tires to prevent any chance of rubbing) Anyway, I felt something new this weekend and it wasn't neat!
Anyway, I would like to learn from your experiences if you folks would be good enough to share them. This is just happening to often to be overlooked. Even if it is a mistake that is being made by the pilots it is happening often enough that the rest of us need to be extra careful. If you happen to have experience with a flip over and would share the details of how it came to pass I would be very grateful. Please help the rest of us to prevent this scenario.
Many thanks in advance,
Bryan 9A "Flyin' The Flag"
I'm not trying to start an argument among us, but I am really curious how so many 9A's are ending up on their backs. Out of what, 165 or so flying now there are about 5 that have ended up with the wheels up and the canopy down. I don't know about the 6A's, 7A's, and 8A's but this seems like a very high number of accidents of this type for the amount of airplanes actually flying. This latest one had a first flight in Sept. of '03 according to a photo on Clay's RV-9A site which makes the pilot experienced in type with two years under his belt now. What is going on?
I now have 180 hours on my RV-9A and just had something happen for the first time Saturday that I'm wondering if anybody else flying an "A" configuration has had happen. I landed at Gustine, CA for fuel at around 1opm which is located in the Central Valley and it was around 90+ degrees outside. The elevation is close to sea level and there was a limp windsock during the landing. I held 75mph on final with full flaps and greased the mains on, and they literally chirped but there was no feeling of them touching down. My wife said good one and for the first time when I set the nosewheel down very soft there was this vibration/rubbing sound. I immediately pulled the nose back up and it quit. I set it back down and it did it again. Up one more time and held it until it wouldn't stay up any longer. This time it was okay when setting it down. At the fuel Island I checked tire pressure, looked for rubbing of the tire in the wheel pant, etc., no evidence of anything. I was all over this thing before leaving and could find no reason for the noise. Usually I fly this thing exactly like Mike Seager taught me to, which is to hold the nose up until elevator authority is almost gone and then to slowly set it down. This is the first time that I can remember setting it down so soon and am wondering if the the nosewheel started to shimmy like the Cessnas tend to do. I have landed at Tahoe and Reno which require a higher groundspeed to maintain the airspeed for final and the nosewheel never did this. Have any of you experienced anything like this? The plane taxied great after this, and I put several more take offs and landings this weekend without anymore issues. (Note: my wheelpants are cut out at least 3/8 to 1/2" wider than the tires to prevent any chance of rubbing) Anyway, I felt something new this weekend and it wasn't neat!
Anyway, I would like to learn from your experiences if you folks would be good enough to share them. This is just happening to often to be overlooked. Even if it is a mistake that is being made by the pilots it is happening often enough that the rest of us need to be extra careful. If you happen to have experience with a flip over and would share the details of how it came to pass I would be very grateful. Please help the rest of us to prevent this scenario.
Many thanks in advance,
Bryan 9A "Flyin' The Flag"