MrNomad
Well Known Member
And so my 64 hours of sheer pleasure came to an end this past Saturday. During a landing at MYF (San Diego) on runway 23 (very rough, seldom used paved runway), the front gear on my 9 folded under as I passed the bumpy edge of intersecting runway 28R.
Fortunately, the gear just folded under the airplane and the plane didn't flip. It skidded to a stop on the bent front and the two main gears. I experienced no damage other than a bent $2,000 cruise prop.
The wife refuses to fly ever again. Anyone interested in a 9A with 64 hours, lemme know. See the link below for the equipment list.
If you have to get stuck, MYF is the place to do it. Henry Sickels of Gibbs Aviation was an absolute prince providing a hangar, tools, and lots of quality advice as I disassembled the 9A and loaded it on my trailer with his forklift. Using a pipe wrench, Henry and I un-bent the front gear into a vertical position to better stabilize the airplane. Yes, you read that right. We un-bent the so-called new design gear with a pipe wrench.
I welcome all opinions concerning the remedy (assuming no one buys it).
For photos click on www.arizonaairparks.com/rv-nose-gear-incident.htm
Barry @ arizonaairparks.com
520-797-0265
FOLLOWUP as of 1/2009: After 60 days of non stop work & considerable exercise of the credit card, we fixed the 9A and added 40++ more wonderful hours since summer 08. In retrospect, several factors contributed to this mishap and I take responsibility for all of them. First, never land faster than you have to. Second, I avoid rough fields and, even on smooth runways, the front wheel never touches Mother Earth until gravity demands it. You can boast about all of the soft fields and rough places you've managed to land, but watching that front gear oscillate back and forth is not encouraging. Third, if there is any question what your breakout force is, don't fly. Fourth, if you don't know what your tire pressure is, don't fly. Fifth, if you haven't installed your front wheel pant and placed many layers of glass inside so the front pant can serve as a skid plate, don't fly. Sixth, install a spacer in the front wheel hub to preclude bearing compression and increased rolling resistance.
Yes, the wife agreed to fly again and one of the first trips was back to KMYF to say thanks to all of the folks who were so helpful.
Fortunately, the gear just folded under the airplane and the plane didn't flip. It skidded to a stop on the bent front and the two main gears. I experienced no damage other than a bent $2,000 cruise prop.
The wife refuses to fly ever again. Anyone interested in a 9A with 64 hours, lemme know. See the link below for the equipment list.
If you have to get stuck, MYF is the place to do it. Henry Sickels of Gibbs Aviation was an absolute prince providing a hangar, tools, and lots of quality advice as I disassembled the 9A and loaded it on my trailer with his forklift. Using a pipe wrench, Henry and I un-bent the front gear into a vertical position to better stabilize the airplane. Yes, you read that right. We un-bent the so-called new design gear with a pipe wrench.
I welcome all opinions concerning the remedy (assuming no one buys it).
For photos click on www.arizonaairparks.com/rv-nose-gear-incident.htm
Barry @ arizonaairparks.com
520-797-0265
FOLLOWUP as of 1/2009: After 60 days of non stop work & considerable exercise of the credit card, we fixed the 9A and added 40++ more wonderful hours since summer 08. In retrospect, several factors contributed to this mishap and I take responsibility for all of them. First, never land faster than you have to. Second, I avoid rough fields and, even on smooth runways, the front wheel never touches Mother Earth until gravity demands it. You can boast about all of the soft fields and rough places you've managed to land, but watching that front gear oscillate back and forth is not encouraging. Third, if there is any question what your breakout force is, don't fly. Fourth, if you don't know what your tire pressure is, don't fly. Fifth, if you haven't installed your front wheel pant and placed many layers of glass inside so the front pant can serve as a skid plate, don't fly. Sixth, install a spacer in the front wheel hub to preclude bearing compression and increased rolling resistance.
Yes, the wife agreed to fly again and one of the first trips was back to KMYF to say thanks to all of the folks who were so helpful.
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