N29CX took off this morning for the initial flight. It lasted not more than two seconds. The plane accelerated smoothly and I noticed the RPM passing through 4950 when there was an uncommanded pitch of what I am guessing was 60-degrees, and full force forward on the stick didn't do anything and then there was a stall. Fortunately there was still forward momenten when the nose wheel hit the dirt at the side of the runway.
The nose wheel fork separated from the wheel. The nose leg severed at the point where it attaches to the bottom of the fuselage.
The exhaust pipe was a bit squeezed, and one exhaust pipe popped out of the muffler.
There were no oil, coolant, or fuel leaks. The ELT went off, and within perhaps 3 minutes I was out of the plane, stopped the ELT and disconnected the ELT antenna. The satellite still picked up the squawk.
The fuselage at the firewall is probably beyone repair, because of some rips in the skin. The firewall bottom is a bit curled up.
An aircraft mechanic helped me get the plane back into the hangar, and he found that the Ray Allen servo was damaged; the back of the servo box is broken out and there are broken gears showing. The linkage from the servo to the anti-servo tab, and to the point where it anchors to the tail cone area is in perfect condition - no scratches, no distortions, nothing broken, all in perfect shape, but the servo itself has its case broken at one side, and the part of the servo that screws out is jammed.
Was it an uncontrolled servo activation? The suspection right now is that it was, but that will be further investigated.
The prop broke away at the hub on one side, and broke off about 10-inches on the other side. NO damage to the pitot tube, nor the spinner. The oil cooler is perfectly OK, as is the muffler and the gascolator.
I know the engine will have to be removed, broken down, and I just hope that the crank is OK, but that will have to be determined.
The airworthiness inspection was on June 11th and I know the inspector took a lot of time looking at the anti-servo system (he had not seen an LSA or an RV-12 before) and he was satisfied.
I got as small scratch on my right index finger, but no other damage, nor even any shock.
My preliminary inspection makes me think that the entire 'fuselage' section will have to be replaced...wings are all OK, and tail section is fine, except where a plastic pipe that had reflective material on it to mark a taxi way edge poked a hole in the bottom of the fuselage...but that is an easy patch.
I will post more as I learn it. Only real damage is to my ego, and to a lesser extent, to the check book.
Does a 2-second lift off count as another RV-12 in the air? Darn, I took a lot of photos before the flight, and many more of the damage ... being an old FAA retiree and an attorney the back of my mind said take a LOT of photos of everything, including the Ray Allen servo...bad day at back rock, but at least I am OK, there was no property damage, and noone else was hurt.
The nose wheel fork separated from the wheel. The nose leg severed at the point where it attaches to the bottom of the fuselage.
The exhaust pipe was a bit squeezed, and one exhaust pipe popped out of the muffler.
There were no oil, coolant, or fuel leaks. The ELT went off, and within perhaps 3 minutes I was out of the plane, stopped the ELT and disconnected the ELT antenna. The satellite still picked up the squawk.
The fuselage at the firewall is probably beyone repair, because of some rips in the skin. The firewall bottom is a bit curled up.
An aircraft mechanic helped me get the plane back into the hangar, and he found that the Ray Allen servo was damaged; the back of the servo box is broken out and there are broken gears showing. The linkage from the servo to the anti-servo tab, and to the point where it anchors to the tail cone area is in perfect condition - no scratches, no distortions, nothing broken, all in perfect shape, but the servo itself has its case broken at one side, and the part of the servo that screws out is jammed.
Was it an uncontrolled servo activation? The suspection right now is that it was, but that will be further investigated.
The prop broke away at the hub on one side, and broke off about 10-inches on the other side. NO damage to the pitot tube, nor the spinner. The oil cooler is perfectly OK, as is the muffler and the gascolator.
I know the engine will have to be removed, broken down, and I just hope that the crank is OK, but that will have to be determined.
The airworthiness inspection was on June 11th and I know the inspector took a lot of time looking at the anti-servo system (he had not seen an LSA or an RV-12 before) and he was satisfied.
I got as small scratch on my right index finger, but no other damage, nor even any shock.
My preliminary inspection makes me think that the entire 'fuselage' section will have to be replaced...wings are all OK, and tail section is fine, except where a plastic pipe that had reflective material on it to mark a taxi way edge poked a hole in the bottom of the fuselage...but that is an easy patch.
I will post more as I learn it. Only real damage is to my ego, and to a lesser extent, to the check book.
Does a 2-second lift off count as another RV-12 in the air? Darn, I took a lot of photos before the flight, and many more of the damage ... being an old FAA retiree and an attorney the back of my mind said take a LOT of photos of everything, including the Ray Allen servo...bad day at back rock, but at least I am OK, there was no property damage, and noone else was hurt.