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Avoiding a Flip Over?

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ianxbrown

Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 80

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:39 am Post subject: Avoiding a Flip Over?

Flyers and builders of Van's RV "A" models, I flipped my aircraft over and

face a major rebuild.  I wanted to send a message to the digest to give a

heads-up to those of you who don't find the time to dwell in the forums.

There is a device that could save your lives and could have saved major

expense for me.  It's called the AntiSplat device from AntiSplatAero.  I'm

convinced that my flip over could have been avoided if I'd had this.  At the

same strip two days later the identical aircraft arrived, an RV-9A, and they

had AntiSplat fitted and had no problems on this somewhat bumpy grass strip.



I could also improve my piloting skills, but that's a different chapter.  At

least the five-point harnesses did a great job.  Snug 'em up tight folks,

and carry that escape tool.  It turns out that when you're upside down the

canopy won't move, slider or tip-up, and the canopy is already smashed so

the tool you need to get out is something that will snap off plexiglass.

Also, don't expect to have the presence of mind to pick up your favourite

escape tool before you undo your harness and land on your head, which might

just disorientate you a bit, or even turn you around.



A really pleasant surprise was to discover that the RV vent design results

in no fuel loss when inverted accidentally.  We saw a small amount drain out

when the plane was righted, but while inverted it's good to take stock of

the situation in the knowledge that you probably don't have fuel leaking.



Ian Brown

RV-9A C-GOHM

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Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:55 am Post subject: Avoiding a Flip Over?

Just curious if you had the MATCO "fix" installed, replacing the designed

axel. When Alex Peterson diagnosed the problem with the nosewheels as

designed a few years ago, and a fix was made available, suddenly a lot of

reports of nose-gear flips seemed to disappear, pretty much confirming -- it

seems to me -- Alex's diagnosis that the design from Van's imposes a

"breaking action" with the puck that seemed to be alleviated with that fix.



I've heard tood things, too, about the AntiSplat, but I'm wondering if my

anecdotal evidence of a decline in flips suggests a fix already existed that

worked?



So sorry about your flip, but glad you're OK. 



Do not archive 



--

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_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

Hopperdhh(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject: Avoiding a Flip Over?

Hello Ian,

  

 Thanks for the post.  I can really sympathize with you.  I had a  nose-

 over about 4 years ago.  Took about $10K and 3 months to get

 back in the air.  I slid off my runway making a turn in wet  grass. Why

 didn't I just shut it down?  My thought was if I get this thing  stuck

 it will take me a half hour to get it out!  I don't blame the  nose

  gear design for my poor groundmanship, but several other flip-overs

 have happened around here which have made me afraid of my

 wonderful RV -- to the extent that I don't want to offer rides to  friends.

  



 I just ordered the AntiSplat Nose Job for my RV-7A

 based on reading not just your post but also reading posts and  watching

 the videos linked from the Vans Air Force site.  I was off list for  the past

 couple of years so I wasn't aware of this device until now.  It sure  looks

 good.  This looks like the best improvement to the fragile nose

 gear design out there so far.  If any of you nose wheel drivers  haven't

 seen the videos mentioned above, you should.  The one about the  test

 fixture is especially enlightening.

  

 Anyone flying an -A model RV needs to be extremely careful because

 this type of accident happens when you least expect it.  In my case  I

 didn't flip clear over, but still had to tear the engine down and replace  the

 propeller, engine mount, firewall and lower skin to fix the airplane.

 Others around here have not been so lucky.  Two recent  nose-overs

 resulted in total airframe losses.

  

 Thanks again Ian for the post and best of luck as you start the  rebuilding

 process.  Seriously, if I had it to do over again, I would take  this

 opportunity to convert it to a tail dragger.

  

 Dan Hopper RV-7A

 IO-360 about 500 hours since 2004.

  

 

  

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ianxbrown

Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 80

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:11 am Post subject: Re: Avoiding a Flip Over?

Thanks for the feedback and sympathy.   I had not been a regular visitor to the forums, but I do receive the daily digest.  I was unaware of the Matco "fix" but I'm a bit more confident in the AntiSplat bearing replacement, even though it's a bit more expensive.  There is no adjustment of the bearing tightness and it's sealed for life.



I think one factor in all of this is that anyone who flips over probably places a higher priority on safe technique.



I have the good news that I was able to get the prop repaired, and the engine has no visible interior damage.  The Magnaflux testing will be the definitive answer but I'm looking at a lot less cost for the engine and prop than I feared.  $1,000 for the prop and $2,000 for the motor.  Initial fears were $3k for prop and $5k for motor.



You probably live with regrets too.  Mine is "why the heck didn't I overshoot if I was going to land half way down the runway?"

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Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:39 am Post subject: Avoiding a Flip Over?

///I think one factor in all of this is that anyone who flips over probably

places a higher priority on safe technique.



I couldn't disagree with this statement more. I think one might say people

who haven't flipped over probably place a higher priority on safe technique.

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_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

ianxbrown

Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 80

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:38 am Post subject: Re: Avoiding a Flip Over?

Bob, I think you misunderstood.  I was saying AFTER an accident like this one is more likely to place a HIGHER priority on safe landing technique than one did before the accident...  I'm not sure that those who never had an accident like this can be assumed to be safer just because it didn't happen.

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