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Larry Cottrell

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

I guess its my turn for a sad tale of woe and regret. Its gonna be a bit =

lengthy, so either delete now or settle back.

 My wife and I just closed on a property in the Eastern Oregon Desert. =

It is something that we both wanted, a 2600 foot airstrip and a cinder =

block hanger 40x50 for me and quiet, limitless view with a swimming pool =

and endless areas with no fences, to ride her horse for her. Everything =

was working out pretty good, We no sooner closed on the property than we =

were able to sell our house of 28 yrs here in Klamath. We have been =

making trip after trip taking stuff, mostly farming stuff, to the new =

house. A six and half hour drive each way. We had just taken a large =

truck full of stuff and had finished unloading most of it, when I see a =

falcon fly by, mine! She was really tired of the rides over and back =

riding in her hood so that she would keep quiet, so she sat outside and =

pulled and tugged on her jesses and leash until she pulled loose and off =

to see the wizard she goes. She made one pass at a quail that I was =

using for a lure and decided that she liked flying much better than =

food. Then she wouldn't let me get close to her again. I had invested a =

year of training on this bird and she was showing a lot of promise. It =

was really sad to loose her now, plus she was hampered by the jesses and =

swivel still attached to her. (major guilt trip)

I had taken my Firestar over on a earlier trip, but hadn't flown it =

since last October, and I really wanted to do an annual before flying. =

Well I had fired it up and had fresh gas in it, and it had preformed =

well as usual. So when the winds calmed down, I took off and flew it for =

about 45 minutes looking at the area around the property. She preformed =

flawlessly as usual, my first landing was just as good as it was when I =

flew last October. I was up with the daylight the next morning and it =

was dead still, so I told my wife where I wanted to look for the bird =

and took off again. I looked for about 45 minutes, flying in some pretty =

remote spots and had no luck. My fuel gages were not functioning, ( One =

of the things that I really wanted to fix) so I decided to go straight =

cross country since it was only 7 miles that way and 18 by hwy. The =

country was rising and all of a sudden the engine cut back to idle. =

First I looked and saw an area in the sage that had only grass, big =

enough to land. I was sure that I couldn't get it back out of there, but =

first things first. Now here is really where the decisions get iffy! I =

checked and CHT's and EGT's were in range. I decided that my throttle =

cable had broken and it had defaulted to idle. No big deal, I had the =

spot made with no problem. In behind the spot was a canyon, a creek =

drainage on the other. I pulled the throttle all the way back and set up =

to land. I am here to tell you that your engine at idle is pushing you =

through the air. If it pushes your airplane on the ground, it pushes =

your airplane especially well in the air. Not enough to clear a canyon, =

but enough to keep your speed up.  For some reason I was distracted =

enough that I did not cut the engine. At about fifty feet, I could see =

that the area was littered with some pretty large rocks, basket ball and =

a bit bigger. I remember thinking, "this is gonna hurt". Nothing to do =

now but make the best of it, flared at way too fast a speed for a =

boulder field, and bang, a cloud of dust and I am hanging in my harness =

with gas dripping out of the vent tube. So I cut the power, released the =

harness and climbed out. The left landing leg had broken at the wheel =

axle causing the plane to nose over hard into a boulder that I would =

have other wise straddled bending the rod that the rudders are attached =

to, munching my nose cone. The rudder never hit the ground. I checked =

for injuries and found that my middle finger somehow was sprained =

because I had been holding on to the throttle. No other cuts or =

scratches, ego was sprained as well. I went back over the debris field =

which was only about 15 feet long, and found that a rock small enough to =

only hit the rim caused the left leg to break, while the other wheel =

pulled a rock about the size of two basket balls out of the ground with =

no damage to the leg.

I hiked out to the hwy "about a mile", and attempted to hitch hike back =

home. Well I walked four miles with every "honky" speeding up when they =

saw my thumb out. Apparently I don't look as trustworthy as I used to =

look. I had developed a couple of good blisters when a Mexican couple =

stopped and gave me a ride for the last 6 miles. I managed to get there =

just before the wife called up a search party. I changed shoes and =

socks, ( always wear good hiking boots when you fly), and we went back =

and took off the wings and flipped her back over to a much more =

dignified manner. I found that the front spark plug cap was off. I put =

it back on the plug and gave it a tug and it easily came off. Throttle =

cables were just fine. We then carried the wings for about 4 tenths of a =

mile to the trailer. We will go back with my quad, fasten a wheel to the =

broken leg, and pull her down the hill, across the creek and back up the =

hill on the other side. I will have to cut a fence to get her through, =

but I can repair that, then trailer her home. On my walk home I did see =

my errant falcon chasing some birds about six miles from home.

I decided to stay for a few days longer to give her a chance to get =

hungry and perhaps she would come back home. It rained a bit on Sunday =

and at dusk the wind died so I pulled out an electric RC plane that I =

had just gotten to play with. I had just set the thing down on the =

ground when there was the falcon flying over my head wondering why I =

wasn't feeding her. I hot footed it back to the house and got my quail =

and called her down. She had apparently gotten lonesome because she =

really didn't eat that much. When she was done I put her in the "fenced =

weathering pen" that I had finally gotten time to put up. She pulled her =

foot up and was apparently happy to be back. I then went out to the RC =

plane and found that it had tipped over on its nose, I had apparently =

nudged the throttle in my run to the house, so the motor was fried. That =

is how I lost two planes in two days!

I had intended to recover the plane this fall, but it appears that I =

will have to bump up the schedule a bit. I am going to put the steel =

legs and nerf tires on as well.  I really don't think there is much =

damage to the frame, but of course I will not know for sure until =

stripping every thing. The wings, empennage, and boom is just fine.



Larry, Oregon

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry:



Glad you got the bird back!!!



Glad you did not get hurt, other than your finger and blisters.



The FS is repairable.



See you all in a couple weeks.



john h

mkIII



PS:  What kind of condition is the airstrip?



DO NOT ARCHIVE

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:33 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

a sad tale of woe and regret>>



Hi Larry,



you don`t do things by halves over there do you?

Congratulations on getting away with it, AND retrieving your hawk.



Pat 



do not archive 

-- 

Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/333 - Release Date: 05/05/2006

Bob Dalton

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 68
Location: Manteca, Ca

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:39 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry,

I am very sorry to hear of your mishap (plane), but am very glad you are

okay. What a way to start off at your new home, keep your chin up and you'll

get through it all okay. Glad to hear also that your falcon came back that

is amazing, bet it was a great feeling to have that kind of bond. Hope you

are still coming to MV, I enjoyed your company in 2004.



Your friend,

Bob Dalton, CA

Do not archive 



--

_________________
Bob Dalton
Manteca, Ca.
wiserguy@comcast.net

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:50 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Moral of the story is?

 

 

 

Sorry bout this,

 

A Bird in the Hand is worth

 

 Two in the Brush

 

do not archive

 

 

Steve B

Don G

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 156
Location: Central Illinois

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:09 am Post subject: Re: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry,

As one who has been down that same road, I Welcome you to the Kolb Bender Club, and give thanks that you are OK. I Certainly know how , after the adrenalin rush disappates, the despair that sets in over your bent plane. But Know this, Kolbs are awful easy to repair, and generally come out more suitable to their owner after a repair than before. You will undoubtable use this refurbish to closer assimilate the FireStar to your likeing, adding that small attribute here or there, a different seat, rocket launcher, a map pocket or any varity of other small or large customizations that will make you Kolb even more enjoyable in the future.

Keep your chin up pard !



Don G

_________________
Don G.
Central Illinois
Kitfox IV Speedster
Luscombe 8A
RV9A

Dave Pelletier

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 100
Location: Prescott, Arizona

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:59 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry,



    So sorry to hear of your recent experience but sure glad to hear that 

you weren't hurt.  WHEW!  Thinking about what could have happened is really 

scary.  Also glad to hear that your falcon came back to the roost.  I'm sure 

that helped a bit.  Anyway, back to building, huh!



AzDave



---

_________________
AzDave

jimhefner

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Tucson, AZ

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:40 am Post subject: Re: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry, real sorry to hear about your mishap, but am glad to hear you made it out OK.  Sounds like you were lucky to be within half mile of a road to retrieve your bird without too much trouble.  I'll be interested in hearing more about what you conclude about why the engine suddenly went to idle... was there a throttle cable failure?  I wouldn't think a loose plug cable would cause that so it will be interesting to hear what you conclude.



Real glad to hear you got your falcon back too... you could have lost 3 birds in one day!



Happy to hear you didn't get hurt!



Do Not Archive

_________________
Jim Hefner
Tucson, AZ
Do Not Archive

ghaley(at)wt.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry,



Happy to see that you were OK.  Sounds like you did a real good job getting it 

down in some pretty rough terrain.  Good luck on the repairs and hope to see 

you and Karen and the Falcon again some day.



  -- Gary Haley, Cypress, TX



Quoting Larry Cottrell <lcottrel(at)kfalls.net>:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I guess its my turn for a sad tale of woe and regret. Its gonna be a bit =

 lengthy, so either delete now or settle back.

  My wife and I just closed on a property in the Eastern Oregon Desert. =

 It is something that we both wanted, a 2600 foot airstrip and a cinder =

 block hanger 40x50 for me and quiet, limitless view with a swimming pool =

 and endless areas with no fences, to ride her horse for her. Everything =

 was working out pretty good, We no sooner closed on the property than we =

 were able to sell our house of 28 yrs here in Klamath. We have been =

 making trip after trip taking stuff, mostly farming stuff, to the new =

 house. A six and half hour drive each way. We had just taken a large =

 truck full of stuff and had finished unloading most of it, when I see a =

 falcon fly by, mine! She was really tired of the rides over and back =

 riding in her hood so that she would keep quiet, so she sat outside and =

 pulled and tugged on her jesses and leash until she pulled loose and off =

 to see the wizard she goes. She made one pass at a quail that I was =

 using for a lure and decided that she liked flying much better than =

 food. Then she wouldn't let me get close to her again. I had invested a =

 year of training on this bird and she was showing a lot of promise. It =

 was really sad to loose her now, plus she was hampered by the jesses and =

 swivel still attached to her. (major guilt trip)

 I had taken my Firestar over on a earlier trip, but hadn't flown it =

 since last October, and I really wanted to do an annual before flying. =

 Well I had fired it up and had fresh gas in it, and it had preformed =

 well as usual. So when the winds calmed down, I took off and flew it for =

 about 45 minutes looking at the area around the property. She preformed =

 flawlessly as usual, my first landing was just as good as it was when I =

 flew last October. I was up with the daylight the next morning and it =

 was dead still, so I told my wife where I wanted to look for the bird =

 and took off again. I looked for about 45 minutes, flying in some pretty =

 remote spots and had no luck. My fuel gages were not functioning, ( One =

 of the things that I really wanted to fix) so I decided to go straight =

 cross country since it was only 7 miles that way and 18 by hwy. The =

 country was rising and all of a sudden the engine cut back to idle. =

 First I looked and saw an area in the sage that had only grass, big =

 enough to land. I was sure that I couldn't get it back out of there, but =

 first things first. Now here is really where the decisions get iffy! I =

 checked and CHT's and EGT's were in range. I decided that my throttle =

 cable had broken and it had defaulted to idle. No big deal, I had the =

 spot made with no problem. In behind the spot was a canyon, a creek =

 drainage on the other. I pulled the throttle all the way back and set up =

 to land. I am here to tell you that your engine at idle is pushing you =

 through the air. If it pushes your airplane on the ground, it pushes =

 your airplane especially well in the air. Not enough to clear a canyon, =

 but enough to keep your speed up.  For some reason I was distracted =

 enough that I did not cut the engine. At about fifty feet, I could see =

 that the area was littered with some pretty large rocks, basket ball and =

 a bit bigger. I remember thinking, "this is gonna hurt". Nothing to do =

 now but make the best of it, flared at way too fast a speed for a =

 boulder field, and bang, a cloud of dust and I am hanging in my harness =

 with gas dripping out of the vent tube. So I cut the power, released the =

 harness and climbed out. The left landing leg had broken at the wheel =

 axle causing the plane to nose over hard into a boulder that I would =

 have other wise straddled bending the rod that the rudders are attached =

 to, munching my nose cone. The rudder never hit the ground. I checked =

 for injuries and found that my middle finger somehow was sprained =

 because I had been holding on to the throttle. No other cuts or =

 scratches, ego was sprained as well. I went back over the debris field =

 which was only about 15 feet long, and found that a rock small enough to =

 only hit the rim caused the left leg to break, while the other wheel =

 pulled a rock about the size of two basket balls out of the ground with =

 no damage to the leg.

 I hiked out to the hwy "about a mile", and attempted to hitch hike back =

 home. Well I walked four miles with every "honky" speeding up when they =

 saw my thumb out. Apparently I don't look as trustworthy as I used to =

 look. I had developed a couple of good blisters when a Mexican couple =

 stopped and gave me a ride for the last 6 miles. I managed to get there =

 just before the wife called up a search party. I changed shoes and =

 socks, ( always wear good hiking boots when you fly), and we went back =

 and took off the wings and flipped her back over to a much more =

 dignified manner. I found that the front spark plug cap was off. I put =

 it back on the plug and gave it a tug and it easily came off. Throttle =

 cables were just fine. We then carried the wings for about 4 tenths of a =

 mile to the trailer. We will go back with my quad, fasten a wheel to the =

 broken leg, and pull her down the hill, across the creek and back up the =

 hill on the other side. I will have to cut a fence to get her through, =

 but I can repair that, then trailer her home. On my walk home I did see =

 my errant falcon chasing some birds about six miles from home.

 I decided to stay for a few days longer to give her a chance to get =

 hungry and perhaps she would come back home. It rained a bit on Sunday =

 and at dusk the wind died so I pulled out an electric RC plane that I =

 had just gotten to play with. I had just set the thing down on the =

 ground when there was the falcon flying over my head wondering why I =

 wasn't feeding her. I hot footed it back to the house and got my quail =

 and called her down. She had apparently gotten lonesome because she =

 really didn't eat that much. When she was done I put her in the "fenced =

 weathering pen" that I had finally gotten time to put up. She pulled her =

 foot up and was apparently happy to be back. I then went out to the RC =

 plane and found that it had tipped over on its nose, I had apparently =

 nudged the throttle in my run to the house, so the motor was fried. That =

 is how I lost two planes in two days!

 I had intended to recover the plane this fall, but it appears that I =

 will have to bump up the schedule a bit. I am going to put the steel =

 legs and nerf tires on as well.  I really don't think there is much =

 damage to the frame, but of course I will not know for sure until =

 stripping every thing. The wings, empennage, and boom is just fine.

 

 Larry, Oregon

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

 


	




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This message has been scanned for viruses and

dangerous content by MailScanner, and is

believed to be clean.

eagle1(at)commspeed.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:30 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Dang Larry, That's not the kind of news I like to hear. I hate to hear of 

anyone going down in there craft for any reason. We Kolbers will all be most 

interested in hearing all about it in MV in a couple of weeks. And I am 

waiting with bated breath for you to retell your story of your tour of duty 

in Alaska with your guard dog. Please refresh your memory on that one for 

us.

     So glad you weren't hurt, That's the bottom line.

      As. Bald Eagle



---

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:37 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

I think Larry meant the plug wire had come off???

On mine I have automotive wires with the big long boots

molded on.  They hold nice and snug, takes some pulling

to remove them.



Curiosity got the better of me so this morning I duct taped my

cheapy Etrex under the compass and went for a local ride.

That AIS isn't too far off.  I have to wind the rubber band up

pretty tight to get 70.   Nice day though, got to terrorize a couple

tractors.



Very accurate at low speeds, good enough for me.

-BB  do not archive

On 9, May 2006, at 10:40 AM, jimhefner wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Larry, real sorry to hear about your mishap, but am glad to hear you 

 made it out OK.  Sounds like you were lucky to be within half mile of 

 a road to retrieve your bird without too much trouble.  I'll be 

 interested in hearing more about what you conclude about why the 

 engine suddenly went to idle... was there a throttle cable failure?  I 

 wouldn't think a loose plug cable would cause that so it will be 

 interesting to hear what you conclude.



 Real glad to hear you got your falcon back too... you could have lost 

 3 birds in one day!



 Happy to hear you didn't get hurt!



 Do Not Archive



 --------

 Jim Hefner

 Tucson, AZ

 Firefly #022  447, 2 blade IVO, BRS-750

 Do Not Archive





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=33621#33621

Larry Cottrell

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Thanks guys for the sympathy, and the kindness that managed to overlook the 

mistakes that were made. There were mistakes in judgement that could have 

added up to serious problems in any other type of plane. I am a firm 

believer that the Kolb is indeed one of the safest planes flying. However I 

cannot say anything good about alum gear legs.  I was aware of the 

possible consequences of each judgement at the time that I made them and 

accepted the risk. This time I was on the recieving end and I don't have any 

problems with that. I am not having any problems with depression either. I 

am anxious to get the time to repair her and do not feel that the plane or 

the engine let me down. There was a post not too long ago admonishing people 

to secure their spark plug caps, and I intended to do that when I did my 

annual. Then the emergency situation (to me) came up and that went out the 

window. My judgement, my risk! No regrets!



The only thing that I could find wrong or out of place was the spark plug 

cap. If there is 38 HP with two cylinders firing. ( I have a silencer that 

is supposed to rob two of the 40 reported HP) When there is only one left 

and it is dragging the unfiring cylinder, that is going to be somewhere less 

than half the HP left. I have of course been chasing this around in my head 

since the landing. In truth I didn't try too hard to try to fly it somewhere 

else. In front was definately out as the terrain was rising and there was a 

canyon with some pretty steep sides. If I had made a turn to the right, and 

I could have limped to a two track that I did not know at the time was 

there, I would have been a lot better off. However at the altitude that I 

was at, that patch of grass looked really good. If you stick it in the sage 

( two foot high) it is guarenteed that you are going to flip it. I have 

managed to convince myself that I made the only decision possible, that my 

odds of being a lot worse off would have increased with trying to turn, 

hoping that I could stay airborne long enough to get to somewhere better.



As for Monument Valley, I am afraid that I am going to have to take a 

raincheck this year. I am busier than a one armed paper hanger at the 

moment. George remind me to tell you about my pet rabbit that I had in 

Alaska. I personally think it is better than the one about the sentry dog. 

It is true as well!



The new runway is all ready, or will be by the time MV is over. You all come 

visit after ward.  N42 40.751 W117 51.673



This will be my last post for a while as the computer will be boxed up after 

tonite. I can't even find anyone that supplies internet service there yet.



Larry, Oregon

beauford(at)tampabay.rr.c
Guest

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Steve B:

That was so bad, it was GOOD....  "two in the brush....?"

Hats-off to a Master...!!!!



Way to go, Larry....  Got all 3 of your birds back where you can deal

with 'em...

Helluva story....  Glad you and the live bird are OK...

My Respects and Admiration, Sir...

beauford

Brandon, FL

do not archive

---

rsanoa

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Location: Bell Buckle,TN

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Larry,

            Your story took my memory back about 68 or 69 years when a similar incident happened to me. I had just learned to fly about a year before and had bought one of the Curtiss Wright Jr.  planes my instructor had. ( either $225 or $250.) It was a two place pusher with pretty much the same configuration as a Kolb.  Had a 39.5 ft. wingspan and a 45 hp 3 cyl. Szekley motor. Had mica plugs but it was at the height of the great depression and when I had to replace them, I fudged and replaced with conventional ceramic auto plugs.  Worked fine until one day while playing around, I got quite a bit of altitude when I arrived back at my home field, a fairly short dirt strip. Being a newly hatched pilot, I closed the throttle and spiraled down, never clearing the motor, arrived over the approach end a little high but thought I could make it. As the 39 ft wing refused to settle, I saw I had to go around, and opened the throttle suddenly. The ceramic plugs had cooled off and the

 sudden burst of power blew the ceramic section out of four plugs instantly (dual ign.). I was floating along by then about 10 feet high over the far end of the strip. The old Szekley was running fine on one cylinder, going pop - chug, chug,  pop-chug, chug. Every thing in front of me was scrub brush about 5 - 6 feet tall and I was at 10 feet. The Szekley kept running with pop - chug, chug  for about a quarter mile when I came to a cotton field that had been picked, but the rows were parallel to my flight, and at 10 feet I didn't dare make a right hand turn. I closed the throttle, now wide open, and let it settle in. I bounced across a couple of rows and then the wheels caught a furrow and I started up on it's nose. It went totally vertical with me staring at the ground a couple of feet in front of my face. It  hung there vertical with me pushing back against the seat as hard as I could, balanced there for about 4 - 5 seconds and plopped back down on the tail skid (no

 wheel). I went into town and bought 4 more auto plugs, with help pushed it up to the end of the field, turned down the rows, cranked up and flew it out and back to the field. Just a tiny bit of paint off the nose cone. Never again let the motor cool off on a long descent. No more troubles. 

  Not exactly the same as your incident but close. Anyhow, now at 88 years, I am nostalgic about my good old days at 17 - 18 years old with no FAA.  Just Dept. of Commerce who only had one inspector covering the states of S.C., N.C. and part of Va. Yes this is long, but bear with and old, old man.

  Ray

  UltraStar--TN

  Do not archive



Larry Cottrell <lcottrel(at)kfalls.net> wrote:

  



Thanks guys for the sympathy, and the kindness that managed to overlook the 

mistakes that were made. There were mistakes in judgement that could have 

added up to serious problems in any other type of plane. I am a firm 

believer that the Kolb is indeed one of the safest planes flying. However I 

cannot say anything good about alum gear legs.  I was aware of the 

possible consequences of each judgement at the time that I made them and 

accepted the risk. This time I was on the recieving end and I don't have any 

problems with that. I am not having any problems with depression either. I 

am anxious to get the time to repair her and do not feel that the plane or 

the engine let me down. There was a post not too long ago admonishing people 

to secure their spark plug caps, and I intended to do that when I did my 

annual. Then the emergency situation (to me) came up and that went out the 

window. My judgement, my risk! No regrets!



The only thing that I could find wrong or out of place was the spark plug 

cap. If there is 38 HP with two cylinders firing. ( I have a silencer that 

is supposed to rob two of the 40 reported HP) When there is only one left 

and it is dragging the unfiring cylinder, that is going to be somewhere less 

than half the HP left. I have of course been chasing this around in my head 

since the landing. In truth I didn't try too hard to try to fly it somewhere 

else. In front was definately out as the terrain was rising and there was a 

canyon with some pretty steep sides. If I had made a turn to the right, and 

I could have limped to a two track that I did not know at the time was 

there, I would have been a lot better off. However at the altitude that I 

was at, that patch of grass looked really good. If you stick it in the sage 

( two foot high) it is guarenteed that you are going to flip it. I have 

managed to convince myself that I made the only decision possible, that my 

odds of being a lot worse off would have increased with trying to turn, 

hoping that I could stay airborne long enough to get to somewhere better.



As for Monument Valley, I am afraid that I am going to have to take a 

raincheck this year. I am busier than a one armed paper hanger at the 

moment. George remind me to tell you about my pet rabbit that I had in 

Alaska. I personally think it is better than the one about the sentry dog. 

It is true as well!



The new runway is all ready, or will be by the time MV is over. You all come 

visit after ward. N42 40.751 W117 51.673



This will be my last post for a while as the computer will be boxed up after 

tonite. I can't even find anyone that supplies internet service there yet.



Larry, Oregon



		

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_________________
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Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

In a message dated 5/9/2006 8:36:44 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  

beauford(at)tampabay.rr.com writes:






Steve B:

That was so bad, it was  GOOD....  "two in the brush....?"

Hats-off to a  Master...!!!!





Beauford,

 

I really felt bad about that one, it was a 10 on the AAARRG scale, but had  I 

not posted you would have beat me to it. I know you were thinkin about  it.

 

 

Steve

do not archive

Kirk Smith

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 78
Location: SE Michigan

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Va. Yes this is long, but bear with and old, old man.

 	  Quote: 	
		     Ray


	


Thanks for the good story Ray. As far as I'm concerned  I'd listen all day

to those old stories.



Do not archive

Larry Cottrell

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Guys,

   I enjoyed it myself, nothing like a good gagging pun!

Larry, Oregon

---

David.Lehman

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 265
Location: "Lovely" Fresno CA

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 4:37 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Ditto Ray...



David



do not archive



On 5/9/06, Kirk Smith <snuffy(at)usol.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 



 Va. Yes this is long, but bear with and old, old man.

 >   Ray



 Thanks for the good story Ray. As far as I'm concerned  I'd listen all da=

y
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   to those old stories.



 Do not archive

_________________
ô¿ô

"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to the society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute."

--- George Bernard Shaw

biglar

Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 457

Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Me three, Ray.  Keep 'em coming.                   Do not Archive.



---

_________________
Larry Bourne
Palm Springs, CA
Building Kolb Mk IIIC
"Vamoose"

Mike Schnabel

Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Manchester, TN

Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:39 am Post subject: landing in the Oregon Outback!

Great story Ray, love reading what you share... I cant imagine anyone not wanting to hear of such interesting experiences! thank yo for sharing with us!

   

  Mike S

  Manchester TN

  (via Yokohama Japan)

  Firestar 2 503



  do not archive

  

ray anderson <rsanoa(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

  



Larry,

Your story took my memory back about 68 or 69 years when a similar incident happened to me. I had just learned to fly about a year before and had bought one of the Curtiss Wright Jr. planes my instructor had. ( either $225 or $250.) It was a two place pusher with pretty much the same configuration as a Kolb. Had a 39.5 ft. wingspan and a 45 hp 3 cyl. Szekley motor. Had mica plugs but it was at the height of the great depression and when I had to replace them, I fudged and replaced with conventional ceramic auto plugs. Worked fine until one day while playing around, I got quite a bit of altitude when I arrived back at my home field, a fairly short dirt strip. Being a newly hatched pilot, I closed the throttle and spiraled down, never clearing the motor, arrived over the approach end a little high but thought I could make it. As the 39 ft wing refused to settle, I saw I had to go around, and opened the throttle suddenly. The ceramic plugs had cooled off and the

sudden burst of power blew the ceramic section out of four plugs instantly (dual ign.). I was floating along by then about 10 feet high over the far end of the strip. The old Szekley was running fine on one cylinder, going pop - chug, chug, pop-chug, chug. Every thing in front of me was scrub brush about 5 - 6 feet tall and I was at 10 feet. The Szekley kept running with pop - chug, chug for about a quarter mile when I came to a cotton field that had been picked, but the rows were parallel to my flight, and at 10 feet I didn't dare make a right hand turn. I closed the throttle, now wide open, and let it settle in. I bounced across a couple of rows and then the wheels caught a furrow and I started up on it's nose. It went totally vertical with me staring at the ground a couple of feet in front of my face. It hung there vertical with me pushing back against the seat as hard as I could, balanced there for about 4 - 5 seconds and plopped back down on the tail skid (no

wheel). I went into town and bought 4 more auto plugs, with help pushed it up to the end of the field, turned down the rows, cranked up and flew it out and back to the field. Just a tiny bit of paint off the nose cone. Never again let the motor cool off on a long descent. No more troubles. 

Not exactly the same as your incident but close. Anyhow, now at 88 years, I am nostalgic about my good old days at 17 - 18 years old with no FAA. Just Dept. of Commerce who only had one inspector covering the states of S.C., N.C. and part of Va. Yes this is long, but bear with and old, old man.

Ray

UltraStar--TN

Do not archive



Larry Cottrell wrote:




Thanks guys for the sympathy, and the kindness that managed to overlook the 

mistakes that were made. There were mistakes in judgement that could have 

added up to serious problems in any other type of plane. I am a firm 

believer that the Kolb is indeed one of the safest planes flying. However I 

cannot say anything good about alum gear legs.  I was aware of the 

possible consequences of each judgement at the time that I made them and 

accepted the risk. This time I was on the recieving end and I don't have any 

problems with that. I am not having any problems with depression either. I 

am anxious to get the time to repair her and do not feel that the plane or 

the engine let me down. There was a post not too long ago admonishing people 

to secure their spark plug caps, and I intended to do that when I did my 

annual. Then the emergency situation (to me) came up and that went out the 

window. My judgement, my risk! No regrets!



The only thing that I could find wrong or out of place was the spark plug 

cap. If there is 38 HP with two cylinders firing. ( I have a silencer that 

is supposed to rob two of the 40 reported HP) When there is only one left 

and it is dragging the unfiring cylinder, that is going to be somewhere less 

than half the HP left. I have of course been chasing this around in my head 

since the landing. In truth I didn't try too hard to try to fly it somewhere 

else. In front was definately out as the terrain was rising and there was a 

canyon with some pretty steep sides. If I had made a turn to the right, and 

I could have limped to a two track that I did not know at the time was 

there, I would have been a lot better off. However at the altitude that I 

was at, that patch of grass looked really good. If you stick it in the sage 

( two foot high) it is guarenteed that you are going to flip it. I have 

managed to convince myself that I made the only decision possible, that my 

odds of being a lot worse off would have increased with trying to turn, 

hoping that I could stay airborne long enough to get to somewhere better.



As for Monument Valley, I am afraid that I am going to have to take a 

raincheck this year. I am busier than a one armed paper hanger at the 

moment. George remind me to tell you about my pet rabbit that I had in 

Alaska. I personally think it is better than the one about the sentry dog. 

It is true as well!



The new runway is all ready, or will be by the time MV is over. You all come 

visit after ward. N42 40.751 W117 51.673



This will be my last post for a while as the computer will be boxed up after 

tonite. I can't even find anyone that supplies internet service there yet.



Larry, Oregon

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