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WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co
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 Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: Sneaky wind upsets Kolb FireStar |
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On Thursday 3/30/06, my flying buddy, Alan Mancus had his FireStar trashed
by a fickle wind gust. Three of us had flown our Kolbs, along with one fella
in an Avid Flyer, from Alloway, NJ to Massey, MD, a flight of 30 miles. The
winds were predicted to be light (under 10 MPH) and they seemed to be so when
we started out. But the air was very, very turbulent, the worst I have ever
flown in. When we arrived at Massey, the wind sock, which is mounted high
up on top of a large hangar, was kicking out almost straight. We did manage
to land without incident and on the ground the wind did not seem to be that
strong. We had been there for about 1-1/2 hours and were discussing whether
we should wait until after 3 PM for the sun to drop a little and perhaps the
air would not be so turbulent on the return flight.
We had parked our planes facing into the wind, because when the wind comes
at them from the rear it causes the ailerons and rudder to constantly work
back and forth. The spot we parked in was sloped. Alan's Kolb was sitting on
the highest point of ground and the others, the Avid Flyer and the other two
Kolbs were in succession sitting in the lower ground.
The wind had started to change direction and several times we moved the
planes to face into the breeze. There must have been at least 6 or 7 people
standing around talking, none of them looking directly at Alan's Kolb. Suddenly,
we noticed out of the corner of our eyes, his Kolb was going up and over
onto is back. There was no chance to save it. It all happened in a split second
What a sickening sight. I think perhaps the wind came across the open
fields, swooped down into the low section and then upwards right at Alan's plane.
The wind got under the left wing and lifted it up until the right wing hit
the ground. In that position, the wind had enough strength to lift it even
higher and with the tail still touching the ground, it rolled the Kolb over
sideways into the upside down position. Crunch.
All of the flying surfaces suffered damage. Leading and trailing spars are
bent. Some ribs are broken and bent in. The cage survived, but the tail
boom is totaled. It was almost severed at the point were the big bolt goes
through the H-section at the rear of the cage. The engine is also ok, although
one muffler mount angle was bent.
Lesson learned, better use tie downs anytime there is a significant breeze
blowing.
Bill Varnes
Original Kolb FireStar
Audubon NJ
Do Not Archive
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ul15rhb(at)juno.com
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:22 am Post subject: Sneaky wind upsets Kolb FireStar |
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Bill, this is a sad story and one of my worst worries because I don't usually carry tiedowns as I lack the room on my Original Firestar. I was at a fly-in a few years ago when a wind almost blew over my friends Firestar. There were a lot of people around the plane and were nice enough to catch it before it blew over.
I always secure the stick to keep the ailerons from blowing around. I wonder if it would be better to position the plane downwind in a stiff wind.
Thanks for sharing .....
Ralph Burlingame
Original Firestar
19 years flying it
-- WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.com wrote:
On Thursday 3/30/06, my flying buddy, Alan Mancus had his FireStar trashed
by a fickle wind gust. Three of us had flown our Kolbs, along with one fella
in an Avid Flyer, from Alloway, NJ to Massey, MD, a flight of 30 miles. The
winds were predicted to be light (under 10 MPH) and they seemed to be so when
we started out. But the air was very, very turbulent, the worst I have ever
flown in. When we arrived at Massey, the wind sock, which is mounted high
up on top of a large hangar, was kicking out almost straight. We did manage
to land without incident and on the ground the wind did not seem to be that
strong. We had been there for about 1-1/2 hours and were discussing whether
we should wait until after 3 PM for the sun to drop a little and perhaps the
air would not be so turbulent on the return flight.
We had parked our planes facing into the wind, because when the wind comes
at them from the rear it causes the ailerons and rudder to constantly work
back and forth. The spot we parked in was sloped. Alan's Kolb was sitting on
the highest point of ground and the others, the Avid Flyer and the other two
Kolbs were in succession sitting in the lower ground.
The wind had started to change direction and several times we moved the
planes to face into the breeze. There must have been at least 6 or 7 people
standing around talking, none of them looking directly at Alan's Kolb. Suddenly,
we noticed out of the corner of our eyes, his Kolb was going up and over
onto is back. There was no chance to save it. It all happened in a split second
What a sickening sight. I think perhaps the wind came across the open
fields, swooped down into the low section and then upwards right at Alan's plane.
The wind got under the left wing and lifted it up until the right wing hit
the ground. In that position, the wind had enough strength to lift it even
higher and with the tail still touching the ground, it rolled the Kolb over
sideways into the upside down position. Crunch.
All of the flying surfaces suffered damage. Leading and trailing spars are
bent. Some ribs are broken and bent in. The cage survived, but the tail
boom is totaled. It was almost severed at the point were the big bolt goes
through the H-section at the rear of the cage. The engine is also ok, although
one muffler mount angle was bent.
Lesson learned, better use tie downs anytime there is a significant breeze
blowing.
Bill Varnes
Original Kolb FireStar
Audubon NJ
Do Not Archive
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John Jung
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 108
Location: Surprise, AZ, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Sneaky wind upsets Kolb FireStar |
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| WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co wrote: |
Lesson learned, better use tie downs anytime there is a significant breeze blowing.
Bill Varnes
Do Not Archive |
A lesson for all of us. In the past, I have been reluctant to use tiedowns if there is no storm warning. I do point my plane away from the wind, though. I have even learned to restrict the stick movement with the seatbelts. But, after reading about this incident, I will try to use tie downs more often.
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_________________
John Jung
Firestar II N6163J
Surprise, AZ |
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tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:22 am Post subject: Sneaky wind upsets Kolb FireStar |
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Bill,
Please tell Alan how sorry I am to hear about his loss. I have enjoyed
meeting you both at Smoketown and Homer's farm the last couple of
years. Hopefully he will be able to rebuild or find another Kolb to
purchase in the near future.
This sure has brought home the need to be prepared for those sudden wind
gusts especially while not near your plane. Friends and I go air
camping every year and have not been tying down over night. Might have
to re-evaluate the situation in the future.
Thanks for letting us know and also thanks for the information on your
gap seal which I relayed to my friend,
Terry - FireFly #95
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Eugene Zimmerman
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 392
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| Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:41 am Post subject: Sneaky wind upsets Kolb FireStar |
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On Apr 3, 2006, at 10:14 AM, Terry Frantz wrote:
| Quote: |
Bill,
Please tell Alan how sorry I am to hear about his loss. I have
enjoyed
meeting you both at Smoketown and Homer's farm the last couple of
years. Hopefully he will be able to rebuild or find another Kolb to
purchase in the near future.
This sure has brought home the need to be prepared for those sudden
wind
gusts especially while not near your plane.
|
Bill,
Terry expressed my sentiments exactly.
Thanks for sharing that experience.
It is so easy to become lax over time.
Hope to see you again soon.
Eugene Zimmerman
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