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Brian Gawronski
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: RE Dangerous ER fuel tanks |
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The two-place Grumman American AA-1 uses its
full-length tubular main spar as the fuel tank.
Because of this, it is placarded against spins, and
has been involved in numerous spin accidents. NASA
has used it as a spin research plane (with a
spin-recovery chute mounted at the tail!)
My advice would be to avoid spins unless the ER
tanks
are empty. Or wear a parachute and be prepared to
use
it.
Brian Gawronski
RV-7A
Empennage #1, Rudder #2
| Quote: | >However; I got an interesting thought from a
builder
>who wrote that these tanks
>were potentially dangerous.
>He said that during spin, the fuel would be sloshed
to >the outboard end of the
>fueltank thus making it difficult or impossible to
>revover from a spin.
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John Clark
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 10
Location: Ashburn, VA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:51 am Post subject: RE Dangerous ER fuel tanks |
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I would not characterize ER tanks as dangerous. I would suggest that the tanks, and many other factors, may adversly affect the spin characteristics of your airplane. The spin characteristics of many airplanes are less than ideal, some airplanes have spin or recovery characteristics that are not consistent from one spin to the next. Slight modifications can significantly affect spin charactistics. The problem is that most of us are ill-equipped and ill-prepared to explore those characteristics.
If I wanted the tanks, I would put them on. The most likely place that I would inadvertly stall and start a spin is in the pattern. It probably does not make much difference if it takes 1/2 turn or 4 turns to recover. If I wanted protection, an AOA/stall warning device would buy the most protection (now don't pick on me about how we should be well trained pilots who whould never stall or spin - those devices are on many (most) certified airplanes (from the smallest to the largest) for a reason).
Take a look at an SAIB for Piper Cherokees. I would suggest that most of the concepts apply to us, recognizing that each specific instruction may not apply to any individual RV.
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/saib/media/ACE-97-02.htm
Regards, John.
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John Clark
RV-9A 90512
N6699 |
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gmcjetpilot(at)yahoo.com
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject: RE Dangerous ER fuel tanks |
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It is because of the TINY vertical stabilizer and rudder. Also the wing blankets the tail. The fuel may have something to do with it, but that is only incidental I believe. I did not read the report on the AA-1 many years ago, but I am aware of it. George
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From: Brian Gawronski <six_rabbits(at)yahoo.com>
Subject: RE Dangerous ER fuel tanks
The two-place Grumman American AA-1 uses its
full-length tubular main spar as the fuel tank.
Because of this, it is placarded against spins, and
has been involved in numerous spin accidents. NASA
has used it as a spin research plane (with a
spin-recovery chute mounted at the tail!)
My advice would be to avoid spins unless the ER
tanks are empty. Or wear a parachute and be prepared to
use it.
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