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FireFly Ground Loop

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jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:53 am Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

FireFlyer's & Kolbers



Experienced my first ground loop after the 635th landing.  I was back 

taxiing in a 14 mph crosswind when one of the tailwheel springs broke.  

Luckily I was not fast taxiing.  I was able to retrieve the spring and 

thread it on so I could taxi the FireFly to the hangar.



The spring broke in the right angle bend the hook makes with the spring 

coil. It was not a progressive failure.  The broken surface did not show any 

rust.



This was quickest and shortest turn I have ever made with the FireFly on 

asphalt.  Did not touch a wing tip or bend a gear leg.



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

In a message dated 3/25/2007 1:54:28 P.M. Central Standard Time,  jbhart(at)onlyinternet.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  This was    quickest and shortest turn I have ever made with the FireFly on    

asphalt.  Did not touch a wing tip or bend a gear leg.



Jack B.    Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

	


 

           Jack,

  

     Good to here no damage done!  Goes to show how  things seem to let loose at the worst moment. Think I might keep one of those  springs in my spare parts bag. Might be a good idea to change those tail wheel  springs at 75 hours just like the muffler springs!

  

         Ed Diebel      FF062

  

                Hou TX



AOL now offers free="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000339" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000339" target="_blank">AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

JetPilot

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1246

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: FireFly Ground Loop

Good thing you were taxiing at a normal speed, instead of rolling out etc. etc.    I will start checking those springs closer on my MK III from now on.



Mike

_________________
"NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!

Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S

John Hauck

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

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

I will start checking those springs closer on my MK III from now on.

|

| Mike



Mike:



This is when "good" differential braking is a plus.  Opposite brake 

would have prevented Jack's ground loop during taxi.  They help keep 

me straight during landings and taxiing on my airplane which is much 

more prone to ground looping than a "normal" mkIII or Fire Fly.



john h

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

rowedenny(at)windstream.n
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

 	  Quote: 	
		   I will start checking those springs closer on my MK III from now on.

 |

 | Mike

Better yet, convert to the compression spring set up instead of the tension 
	


spring. These are far more reliable.



Denny Rowe

jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

At 07:36 PM 3/25/07 -0400, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

>

Better yet, convert to the compression spring set up instead of the tension 

spring. These are far more reliable.


	


Denny,



Where can you purchase very small ones?



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

At 05:14 PM 3/25/07 -0500, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

....................
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  This is when "good" differential braking is a plus.  Opposite brake 

would have prevented Jack's ground loop during taxi.  They help keep 

me straight during landings and taxiing on my airplane which is much 

more prone to ground looping than a "normal" mkIII or Fire Fly.


	


John,



I am not sure that differential braking would have helped.  It was all over 

in an eye blink.  I was staight with the runway and the next second I was 

headed 180 degrees in the other direction.



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

John Hauck

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

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

| I am not sure that differential braking would have helped.

|

| Jack B. Hart FF004

Jack:



Differential brakes would have kept you straight.  Have to stay ahead 

of the airplane.



Kolb pilots get spoiled because they can drive them around on the 

ground like a fork lift.  



Well, most of the time.



john h

mkIII

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

possums(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

At 11:07 PM 3/25/2007, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Jack B. Hart" <jbhart(at)onlyinternet.net>



 John,



 I am not sure that differential braking would have helped.  It was all over 

 in an eye blink.  I was staight with the runway and the next second I was 

 headed 180 degrees in the other direction.



 Jack B. Hart FF004 	


   I did that once - off St. Simon's Island. Lost a spring while landing on a 

  sand

  bar (on a stock Firestar tail wheel).

  Just happened to notice it before I took off. Couldn't find the missing one 

  - so it seemed

  only reasonable to take the other one off and let it caster, rather than 

  leave on just the one. They don't caster too well.

  My next landing was on Jekyll Island and I lost almost complete control as 

  soon as my rear

  wheel touched down - YEEFRIGGINHAAA.

  Did a nice 45 degree turn across the grass and taxie/parking area.

  If there had been any planes there I would have hit them.

  My friend - sitting on the ground thought I was doing it on purpose and 

  thought it was hilarious. Better to take the wheel off & let it work as a skid.

  Got one of them real $250 wheels on my new plane.



 



 

      [quote][b]

jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:16 am Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

At 09:17 PM 3/25/07 -0500, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Differential brakes would have kept you straight.  Have to stay ahead 

of the airplane.




	


John,



When you get powered up, how about an experiment?  Lock your tail wheel at 

45 degrees and then check out if you can taxi it in a straight line on 

asphalt with the stick back against the stop. 



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

rowedenny(at)windstream.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:27 am Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

Jack,

I find the right size compression springs at a hardware store than use thin 

stainless welding rods to make the internals from.

I have this set up on my Loehle tailwheel, and plan to convert the Mk- 3 to 

it as soon as I get it set up in  my hanger.

Way back in 03 when I was first flying the Mk-3, I lost one of the original 

springs and chains while headed to the hanger at McVille.

She made a hard right with full left rudder applied and I don't even think I 

went for the heel brakes. Lucky I was going slow.

I still can't beleive I didn't change the springs yet.

Been out of the air for quite some time so this is one of the many small 

jobs that must be done this Spring.



Denny



Denny

---

jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:10 am Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

At 10:26 AM 3/26/07 -0400, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Jack,

I find the right size compression springs at a hardware store than use thin 

stainless welding rods to make the internals from.

I have this set up on my Loehle tailwheel, and plan to convert the Mk- 3 to 

it as soon as I get it set up in  my hanger.

Way back in 03 when I was first flying the Mk-3, I lost one of the original 

springs and chains while headed to the hanger at McVille.

She made a hard right with full left rudder applied and I don't even think I 

went for the heel brakes. Lucky I was going slow.

I still can't beleive I didn't change the springs yet.

Been out of the air for quite some time so this is one of the many small 

jobs that must be done this Spring.




	


Denny,



Thank you for the response.  I have thought about it some more.  I called 

TNK and they are sending me some new springs and more chain.  What I am 

going to try is to hook the chain in between the tail wheel "T" and the 

rudder "T".  To remove the slack I will slide the spring over the chain and 

hook each end into the chain to keep it in tension.  It will be a little 

heavier, but if the spring breaks, it will not cause a ground loop.  When I 

get it done, I will put up another page on the web.



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

HShack(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: FireFly Ground Loop

In a message dated 3/25/2007 9:59:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jbhart(at)onlyinternet.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Better yet, convert to the compression spring set up instead of the tension 

 	  Quote: 	
		  spring. These are far more reliable. 	


  
	


 I found compression springs at Lowe's [I'm sure Home Depot has them too]  in the hardware department.  They are in a kit that keeps a screen door from opening too far.  You have to cut some metal pieces off, but it's not hard to do.  You would have to buy two.

  

 Been on my Firestar II for over 300 hrs.



  

 Howard Shackleford

FS II

SC



AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

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