AMAZING what lands in your back yard!!!!!!

[Robert Zambelli]

Just recently, a 1942 Stearman was flying over my runway, making all the neat sounds that a radial engine makes. 

Suddenly, it got very quiet *   

Next we knew, it was gliding in, prop stopped. 

Turns out, the #5 connecting rod broke and the pilot shut it down before it grenaded.

We wheeled it into the hanger next to mine and removed the engine as you see in the pictures.

Not sure which rod failed (hopefully not the master) but we won't know until we split the case. In any event, it won't be pleasant or cheap. The engine, a Continental 225 HP 7 cylinder, had less than 300 hours since a major overhaul. .

Bob Z.

* I've heard that there is an interesting similarity between airplanes and women. When they suddenly get very quiet, there is big trouble. 

[john e. holliday]

Lucky he was close.  A fellow I used to  work with was taken for a ride in a Stearman.  Can't remember what altitude they were at, but, he said it became very quiet except for air passing over the plane.  He stated the pilot glided back to the home airport over 20 miles away.  He couldn't beleive there was that much lift.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Roger Vizioli]

Just recently, a 1942 Stearman was flying over my runway, making all the neat sounds that a radial engine makes. 

Suddenly, it got very quiet *    ...............................................................
...

Next we knew, it was gliding in, prop stopped. Bob Z.

* I've heard that there is an interesting similarity between airplanes and women. When they suddenly get very quiet, there is big trouble. 

Bob, It's not only a similarity, it is a fact!
:-)  roger v.

[Randy Powell]

It's interesting. Near me is a private airstrip. It's a grass strip long enough to accommodate most small, private planes. There are maybe 10 homes that are built along the taxi area (sort of like homes on a golf course) and all the neighbors have hangers by their homes and use of the strip. It's called Fragaria Port for some reason (probably for the guy that originally built it). Kind of cool watching small planes flying over the lake to land at the strip. I've talked to one of the owners several times and it's apparently maintained by the folks that live there. Been there forever, I guess. Very neat.

[Robert Zambelli]

Hi, Randy - that's exactly the setup I have, an airpark. 3700 foot grass runway with a paved taxiway surrounding.
It's relatively new so there are only five homes at present but we expect to see construction on two more shortly.
I was fortunate to get a lot on a cul-de-sac off the main taxiway.

Bob Z.

[Tom Niebuhr]

Bob,

I am jealous.

That is a beautiful Stearman. I hope they get it back in the air very soon.

[Bill Heher]

I like the nice Honest John Green engine hoist! 

The worst thing abount an engine change is wondering how it's going to run after you spend all that $$$.

The best part is the rush you get when it fires up, settles down and starts purring - then you pull the screens and find no metal!!! Happy days!

[Matt Colan]

Our local airport where I got my first flight experience has a paved runway aobut 3700 feet long I think, not sure though.

Hope they get that very nice Stearman back in the air.  Bob didn't you tell us a story at brodak where something blew in your engine and you somehow managed to land somewhere?  Can't remember the full details, but I do remember it was a good story.

[Norm Faith Jr.]

Just recently, a 1942 Stearman was flying over my runway, making all the neat sounds that a radial engine makes. 

Suddenly, it got very quiet *   

Next we knew, it was gliding in, prop stopped. 

Turns out, the #5 connecting rod broke and the pilot shut it down before it grenaded.

We wheeled it into the hanger next to mine and removed the engine as you see in the pictures.

Not sure which rod failed (hopefully not the master) but we won't know until we split the case. In any event, it won't be pleasant or cheap. The engine, a Continental 225 HP 7 cylinder, had less than 300 hours since a major overhaul. .

Bob Z.

* I've heard that there is an interesting similarity between airplanes and women. When they suddenly get very quiet, there is big trouble. 

I hope all of this "maintenance" was being performed by an A&P...or under the supervision of an A&P? 
Norm

[Robert Zambelli]

Hey, Guys - the Stearman is the most perfectly restored aircraft I have ever seen. It it flawless right down to the stenciling.

Yes, Matt - I did indeed have a minor problem with my Warrior. Two cylinders fell offline and I had to declare an emergency - uneventful.
When you start your pilot training (as I hope you do), you will learn all the procedures as well as the mantra "No matter what happens, FLY THE AIRPLANE"

The fellows who restore and service the Stearman are all professionals. The engine will go to a specialist in North Carolina for a major.

Fortunately, the owner found a spare low-time engine that we will install. Unfortunately, it is a bare block and he has to change all the accessories from the failed engine to the spare - very labor intensive.

I'm pretty sure I figured out what happened. Before starting, a radial engine must be "cleared" - that is, rocking the prop gently backwards by hand to clear oil out of the lower cylinders. Failure to do so may result in a hydro-lock. Since the engine has an inertial starter, transferring the kinetic energy to a hydro-locked engine can bend a rod or collapse a piston. I believe that sometime in the past, it was not cleared and a rod bent. The stress finally caught up to it and it let go.

Bob Z.

[Terry Bolin]

Robert thanks for your last post. I was reading all this and wondering why a motor with 300 hours on it since the last rebuild would fail. What a shame and a lot of work. The Hydro-lock problem makes sense and we see this alot in Race car engines when driver's flood the motor after having a carb. problem. Great pictures and thanks again for the post! BEAUTIFUL plane, my favorite plane of all times. I hope to build a CL one this winter.
Terry

[Clancy Arnold]

Terry
That happened at the Indianapolis 500 track many years ago.  A driver was out familiarizing himself with a Novi V8 and after several laps slow they told him he could start opening it up.  He hit the back stretch and floored it.  The mechanics said it appeared that all 8 cylinders fire simultaneously laying the crankshaft on the pavement.

Clancy

[Tom Niebuhr]

Terry,
If you are considering a CL Stearman, may I suggest Don Hutchinson's.

It is very accurate and it flies a very good stunt pattern.

[Terry Bolin]

Tom, that is exactly what I have plans for so That is the direction I am headed...... I think.
Joe Gilbert said that there was a profile version from Don also that I would rather build.
I have been reviewing these built up Stearman plans for a month or so while I finish a Hellcat but I am tempted to look at the profile version to avoid a built up fuse.

[Brian Massey]

Well I can't top a Stearman landing in my driveway, but yesterday my wife called me into the yard and pointed up. Soaring overhead was a flock (gaggle?) of Turkey Vultures. I counted as best I could, and came up with over 60. They landed in a neighbor's tree and spent the night; they're gone now. I'm assuming they were migrating south. I'm use to seeing one or two munching road kill, but I've never seen so many together.

Brian

[Mike Lauerman]

Well I can't top a Stearman landing in my driveway, but yesterday my wife called me into the yard and pointed up. Soaring overhead was a flock (gaggle?) of Turkey Vultures. I counted as best I could, and came up with over 60. They landed in a neighbor's tree and spent the night; they're gone now. I'm assuming they were migrating south. I'm use to seeing one or two munching road kill, but I've never seen so many together.

Brian

Hi, Brian.
Those Turkey Vultures create quite a stir whenever they roost! They live in Merced, on 'M' St., just west of Yosemite Avenue, in the trees in the center parkway. Few years ago the city of Merced wanted to get rid of them, for the mess below. (birds will do that) We heard about it all the way to Atwater! (the newspaper finds its way out here regularly) They're something to see...(about .60 size...)

[John Stiles]

That's pretty amazing.....3700 foot dead stick landing I had a crop duster pilot standing in my door a couple days ago asking for permission to use the runway across the highway[belongs to my neighbor]. Anyway, he told me he needed 2500ft........guess he wasn't considering the possibility. I might add; I've seen some pretty crazy stuff[landings] in Nam. Thanks for the post!

[Tom Niebuhr]

John,

You can land most light planes  in much less than 3700 ft. I learned to fly from a 2500 ft runway. As a flight instructor I actually demonstrated that with a strong headwind you can land in approx.200 ft if you had to, because your ground speed is so low.  Of course you need much more for takeoff.  The first 4000ft runway that I saw looked like it was big enough for a C-5, and may be.