A crash today.

[Perry Rose]

In the worst place the engine quit. Right overhead coming out of the clover maneuver. I couldn't run fast enough to regain some control before it hit. In retrospect I should have run towards it and tried to catch it. It wasn't that far from the circle center. Profile plane with an OS .46LA and a round plastic clunk tank. I have the NPSB doing the investigation. The preliminary cause is "fuel starvation". The good side is I have the hardware for a plane on the drawing board.

[James Holford]

Oh no

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Ken Culbertson]

In the worst place the engine quit. Right overhead coming out of the clover maneuver. I couldn't run fast enough to regain some control before it hit. In retrospect I should have run towards it and tried to catch it. It wasn't that far from the circle center. Profile plane with an OS .46LA and a round plastic clunk tank. I have the NPSB doing the investigation. The preliminary cause is "fuel starvation". The good side is I have the hardware for a plane on the drawing board.

Better that the plane is in the morgue than you in the hospital with a spinner in your head. Just remember. Aldrich had a vested interest in selling kits and engines when he placed the cloverleaf at the end of the pattern.   My .46LA wants to know if her cousin is OK?

Ken

[big ron]

FUEL STARVATION = run out of?

[James Holford]

FUEL STARVATION = run out of?

New myth.... .46LA burp!!!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Paul Walker]

Good thing you didn't try to catch it. It would have done damage to you. Better to damage the plane as opposed to you.

[Russell]

The plane is going faster than it appears, upon trying to catch it by the wings they would shear and the fuse continue on.    If caught by the fuse/spinner it punches a hole in the hands along with a prop cut. 


Most planes go to heaven that's what "just one more kit is for..."

[Perry Rose]

The post mortem investigation is complete. The preliminary cause is correct. There was about 1/4 ounce of fuel in the tank. Something new for me the clunk came off the tubing and was rolling around the tank. The tubing was curved towards the outside wall and was picking up fuel until....  The tubing wasn't split.
  The engine has been released from the emergency room and is ready for another plane. The spinner is all right too but the APC expired on impact.
  A replacement model is on the board.

[James Holford]

The post mortem investigation is complete. The preliminary cause is correct. There was about 1/4 ounce of fuel in the tank. Something new for me the clunk came off the tubing and was rolling around the tank. The tubing was curved towards the outside wall and was picking up fuel until....  The tubing wasn't split.
  The engine has been released from the emergency room and is ready for another plane. The spinner is all right too but the APC expired on impact.
  A replacement model is on the board.

Hmm thats wild.  Glad atleat the motor will live to stunt another day. It wasnt Hounddog was it?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Ken Culbertson]

That is an interesting thought.  Why put the maneuvers with least centrifugal force at the end when you have the least fuel and the least recoverable place?

The clover is either my best maneuver or a religious experience.  Sort of like watching Ninja Warrior, will his hand slip on that last peg......

Ken

[Ken Culbertson]

The post mortem investigation is complete. The preliminary cause is correct. There was about 1/4 ounce of fuel in the tank. Something new for me the clunk came off the tubing and was rolling around the tank. The tubing was curved towards the outside wall and was picking up fuel until....  The tubing wasn't split.
  The engine has been released from the emergency room and is ready for another plane. The spinner is all right too but the APC expired on impact.
  A replacement model is on the board.

Wow, something new to check.  Using clunks since they 1st hit the scene and I have never had a clunk fall off.  Thanks for the word on the 46.  I will pass it on to mine.  Time to get the new one off of the boards and into the jigs.

Ken

[Will Hinton]

It's a good chance the clunk was jarred off when the plane it the ground.  Nevertheless, I always wire my tubing at each connection to avoid any "dropoffs".

[Perry Rose]

It was my scratch built Award winning P-39.
Fuel starvation, fuel in the tank not getting to the engine, vs. fuel exhaustion, empty tank. Same results.

[john e. holliday]

Well now you can do a better version.   My losses was doing horizontal 8's as the plane was pointed nose up and tricky wind when engines died.

[James Holford]

Oh no. I liked that plane.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Brett Buck]

Good thing you didn't try to catch it. It would have done damage to you. Better to damage the plane as opposed to you.

     Agreed!  I have seen people trying to catch airplanes that are just gliding slowly (usually inverted) and it picked them right off the ground. There's way more momentum than you think. It can be done if you run along with it, but diving straight in? Stay well out of the way.

    Brett

[Ian MacNeil]

A 53 ounce object falling 60 feet has a terminal force of approximately 217 foot pounds.
An airplane has some drag, but you get the point, as in needle nose spinner. [deadly]

Sorry about your loss; do you have any before/after pictures?   

[James Holford]

Green plane in front of my ringmaster in 2nd pic

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[Steve Helmick]

For what it's worth...last time I had such a problem, practicing for Intermediate at Golden State in Clovis, many years ago...what I did was turn around and sprint as fast as I could until the lines came tight. I was holding full up, and managed to save the KISS! (Fancherized Twister). Backing up in this situation is pretty hopeless, especially for most of us older dudes. I'd do the same thing today, but may or may not have the same result. Do NOT try to catch the "falling star" and absolutely do NOT grab the flying lines, because you'll be lucky to only bleed a cup or two.  Steve