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Ground Loop

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Dennis.Kirby(at)kirtland.
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

Dear Kolb Friends –  

   

In the spirit of sharing one’s misfortunes for the benefit of others, I offer this story that happened to me earlier this summer.  I experienced my first ground loop!  

   

Following a normal warmup and taxi to the runway, I was ready to take the active and go.  The wind was directly across the runway from the left, at approx 10 knots (45-degree droop angle on the windsock at our airport).  Not unusual; I’ve done 12-to-15 knot crosswind takeoffs many times before in my Kolb.  

   

Three seconds after giving it full power, I glanced back at the windsock.  Horror!  It was rigidly horizontal.  In the next second, I felt the violent gust hit my Mark-III, which instantly pivoted 90 degrees to the left as we weathervaned into the wind.  (Which I found out later was a 32-knot gust, as recorded at our airports DigiWx system.)    

   

The instantaneous result was, due to the sudden turn, the left wheel came up and the right wingtip dragged on the ground – the classic ground loop.  Whee!    

   

Back at the hangar, and following VERY close inspection, the only damage that resulted was torn fabric on the aileron tip, at the aft/outboard corner.  Hinge line is straight, trailing edge spar is straight, every member of the aileron structure is straight.  No damage except for fabric.  Gotta love the robust design of these Kolbs!  

   

I’ve since repaired the fabric and have flown my Mark-III – no problems.  I like to think I learned something worthwhile from the experience that’s worth passing on to you all.  For this scenario, I should have waited 15 or 20 minutes before launching, as there were scattered rain clouds in the area; one, particularly close to the airport.  The aberrant gust that got me was from one localized cell that was within 5 miles of the airport.  Although clear skies beckoned in the other direction, I should have let that little rain cloud pass over the airport, rather than try to get out ahead of it.  

   

And so, Pat L and Ohio Ralph (recently), and all you other Kolbers with similar past histories of battle damage (Muncho Lake comes to mind), it is with honor that I join your esteemed ranks.  But like Hauck once said:  “You can’t break ‘em if you don’t fly ‘em!”  

   

Dennis Kirby  

Mark-III, 912ul, “Magic Bike”  

Cedar Crest, New Mexico  

   

      [quote][b]

biglar

Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 457

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

Yah, but you broke yours the easy way.  Good on you,  Dennis, it could have been a lot  worse.                          Lar.               Do not Archive.

 [quote]   ---

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

Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Ground Loop

Yes Dennis, you are one of the most highly esteemed out there. I am glad very little damage was done and you jumped back in the saddle again.



I do not like the "double edged" problem we have with these planes. If you add enough weight to keep them down along the ground, they never get the hankerin to  get off the ground.



On mine, I am getting the IVO prop late this week, making a breather line like "Plaincrazzy" made, need to make a new gap seal out of Lexan. Then tie the tail, crank it up and see if anything comes off or vibrates loose. Also, I need to make a new sissy bar system. The old one most assuradly saved me considerable bucks and repair. I ain't leaven home again without one!



Probably two to three weeks before I get back up. Mornings and evenings are in the 50's and 60's here in Ohio. Hate to miss that cool air. 



I know thsi is a tad away from the Kolb info, but you did use the John H. name and I felt we could all use a laugh. Look at  picture below. And NO, IT AINT A KOLB! Sorry about hurtin feelins.



Ohio Ralph, cantankerous as all get out here in Ohio!

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Isn't that a Massy-Ferguson motor?

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a58r(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

Ralph,

Did you crash three times? Got same msg three times.



bn



do not archive

John Hauck

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

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

| I know thsi is a tad away from the Kolb info, but you did use the 

John H. name and I felt we could all use a laugh. |

| Ohio Ralph, cantankerous as all get out here in Ohio!



Ralph/Gang:



Gosh!  I didn't know John Deere made an airplane that looks like a 

Titan.



john h

mkIII (Strictly Kolb, with a tad of Hauck thrown in.)



PS:  Just now got home, after dark, from dragging the airstrip for 

mines.  Darn cows have been working overtime.  I hit one when I landed 

yesterday on return from Ronnie Smith's.  Thought I had not done much 

damage, until I got out, and the bottom of the fuselage is covered 

with cow crap...................

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

jsflan(at)valornet.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

And, of course there's that ancient Horney wife to farmer husband advice 

joke perhaps applicable to those who crash them...



jsf



Do not archive

---

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject: Ground Loop

In a message dated 8/23/2006 4:26:28 P.M. Central Standard Time,  Dennis.Kirby(at)kirtland.af.mil writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     

    

And so, Pat L and Ohio Ralph    (recently), and all you other Kolbers with similar past histories of battle    damage (Muncho    Lake comes to mind), it    is with honor that I join your esteemed ranks.  But like Hauck once    said:  â€œYou canâ€™t break â€˜em if you donâ€™t fly    â€˜em!â€   

              Dennis, 	


 

                  Sorry to hear of you misfortune. Glad it wasn't worse.

  

                   Ed Diebel      Firefly #  62           Do Not  Archieve

  [quote][b]

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:26 am Post subject: Ground Loop

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:33 am Post subject: Ground Loop

until I got out, and the bottom of the fuselage is covered  with cow 

crap...................>>



Hi,

thats the good part and being fresh is fairly easy to remove. Hit one on 

take off and the darn stuff has dried like conctrete by the time you land. 

Ask me how I know.



Cheers



Pat



do not archive



--

Eugene Zimmerman

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 392

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:59 am Post subject: Ground Loop

On Aug 24, 2006, at 7:12 AM, pat ladd wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  




	


Hey Pat,



Is that a question or a statement?

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: Ground Loop

 	  Quote: 	
		  




	


Hey Pat,



Is that a question or a statement???



What did I say?



Pat



do not archive



--

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