SH_T Happens

[Greg L Bahrman]

Been having some problems with oil leaking into the wing and it was hard to find. I had made one of the hinge slots a little longer than the hinge by about an 1/8 in. and oil was leaking into one of the rib bays through the slot (yes, unbelievable). Anyway I had to strip the covering a couple of times until I found the leak. Clean up the oil and recover. Got that done so I thought I would try the RO Jett 40 rear ex. on this ship for a little more power than the 36 that was on it. Needed new engine plates and a bigger gas tank and a new gastank mount. All of this happening with the thought in the back of my mind that since I missed the Golden State Stunt Championships because of the oil repair I would have no problem making the "CHARLES MACKEY" on Nov. 9th.
All the repairs are done so off to the local field (Sepulveda Basin) for some trimming and practice flights. I will totally be prepaired for tomorrow. The flying site is next to a golf course. Now my plane is sitting in pit row and with all the people milling around I better move it out of harms way. I don't want anything happening to it before the contest. So I moved it about 20 feet away so it wouldn't get stepped on. Our club president was looking towards my plane and a golf ball hit him in the back ricocheted up into the air and came down where.....Another contest I won't get to fly in  ......OK Randy Powell top that, Grins  ......see picture.

[Bob Reeves]

Packing tape.. Be in the air in 15 minutes.. Fix it right later...

[Steve Helmick]

Greg...sorry for your golf incident. Much like Bruce Perry's "pin story", but worse damage. FWIW, I think you should sue the golfer, the PGA, the golf course, and whoever owns the golf course.  Meanwhile, pay somebody to fix it, and get a receipt for the charges. I hope you'll get a new name for the critter, 'cause I really didn't care for "Just Plane Insane".  Now that I think about it, I think 3 words is just one too many. "Plane Insane" would be fine.  "Mourning Wood" might work (or not!) for you.  Steve

[Greg L Bahrman]

Yeah well on the plus side I got a new golf ball out of the deal. 
It was a bad day. My friend Igor that I introduced you to at Clovis was practicing for tomorrow also. The air was hot and dead so everyone was backing up. Anyway he was not in the middle of the circle when the engine quit and he has a really big tool box. Well the tool box is still really big and it won the battle.   

[Randy Powell]

Greg,

Well, this is a flying incident (or at least at the field). I still think my bat thing is nasty.

Seems a fairly easy fix. Wish I could say that.

[Greg L Bahrman]

Yeah, your right Randy. Broke my heart when I found out about the bat damage and you didn't even get to kill the bat. Your ship is definitly a cut above, beautiful. I wish yours was as easy to fix as mine is. Hope to see it again soon.

[Paul Smith]

A pro can hit a golf ball 300 yards.  The average guy only hits 200 yards.  But even a hacker rarely hits the ball 100 yards off the fairway.

It's amazing that a Control Line site is operating so close to a golf course. 

[don Burke]

The Sepulveda site was used for airplane flying for many years BEFORE the golf course was even thought of or installed.

Good luck getting anything from a golfer for damages he/she caused, they are apparently exempt from liability for their actions.  If I hit a baseball and broke someone's window I know I would be liable for repairs.  Golfers in general just go blithely on as if nothing happened.  How do I know that?   The 13th fairway of one of the local courses is alongside my house.

[Garf]

I think my lawyer would get a workout.

[decamara]

Yeah well on the plus side I got a new golf ball out of the deal. 
It was a bad day. My friend Igor that I introduced you to at Clovis was practicing for tomorrow also. The air was hot and dead so everyone was backing up. Anyway he was not in the middle of the circle when the engine quit and he has a really big tool box. Well the tool box is still really big and it won the battle.   

Was that Panchenko's Hopak??

Hate to hear of ANY incident, but that bird had alot of flights on it (as in dialed pretty well).
Just awed at the cool cigar tin muffler he created for it.


Doc

[Greg L Bahrman]

Was that Panchenko's Hopak??    YES!!!!

[Leo Mehl]

 I have a story along these same lines. I took my Arctic fox to a showteam event in Olympia wash. When I was done flying I set my plane on the ground because there was no place on the table for it. A little while later Bill Darkow said that my plane was involved in a accident. It seems where I was going to put my plane on the table there set a sign of some sort. When the wind came up the sign blew off the table and through my wing. After I patched the wing I screwed up the other wing by going off the circle and running into a pile of dirt that the workmen had left setting by the edge of the circle. Who is me! I also put a hole in a wing from the edge of a car door. The last accident with this plane the L&J Fox I had in it decided to quit on the overhead 8's right into the sun. Other than that the plane lasted for 3 years.