Near miss......

[birdy]

Empty ya pockets!!!!!!!!!

Was do'n me customary bore run this mor'n, and after bout 1 1/2 hours, i head for me customary halfway pi55stop.
Bout a mile out, at me customary 2' above the trees, i heard and felt a bump?!?!
Sounded like i touched the tree with the F glass wheel spat, but i felt the bump in the stick?!?!?!
I just cursed meself for not watchn where im go'n and preped fora pi55.
As i attempted to flair, i realised i had buggerall backstick.
Nun actualy!!!!!!!!
A high speed touch was uneventfull tho scarey for me, and soon's i looked down i saw the problem.
My pocket knife, the one iv been carrying for 40 f&^%n years, had taken it apon itself to jump outa the pocket, at the zact instant i went close to a tree, and wedge itself in the pitch crank of the RAF cyclic.

Bloody close shave!!!!!!!!!!
Given that it was also timed to the fact me throttle friction had lost effect wen i took off, [ no big deal, just rest me hand onit till i get to the pi55stop]
If id hit sink, i couldnt let go of the throttle to push the stick forward with me left hand to release the knife with me rite, coz i was too low to cut power AND drop the nose.
Not to mention im here on me own for 2 weeks, and the nearest human is 40 miles close.

Yes, i know, im one lucky duck.

[willisbr]

Wow birdy glad you are ok. You sure got a lot figured out in a matter of seconds. Anxiety good. Panick bad! Glad you are ok pi55a! Hope you saved it for the ground ;)

[CLS447]

I always empty my pockets. A flight suit overtop your pants also helps.

I've seen things get in the way of the RAF control already. Sometimes those cabins get pretty cluttered with stuff.

Glad you made it back !

[RICK MARTIN]

Thanks Birdy. A very good reminder for all of us. Glad you're alright.

[jcarleto]

Close shave, Birdy. I'm glad your calm prevailed.

I've seen the effect of coins on propellers in a variety of aircraft. Apparently, propellers like to handle coins and are willing to pick pockets for the privilege.

[groundhog]

since birdy farms,he doesn't need to worry about spare change

[All_In]

Yikes, that could have been bad! Glad it turn into just an oops...

[StanFoster]

Birdy- Thanks for sharing your experience. My cyclic I would say is jam proof with the rubber gearshift boot I have around it, but my collective lever has a trough under it that I wouldnt want to drop my camera into. That woiuld limit my collective going down.

A sterile cockpit is important.


Stan

[EI-GYRO]

I'd have needed more than a pi55 after that.

[Russ Hobbs]

Roger that.

[Arnie Madsen]

Birdy

You already look like a young Paul Newman , and now you prove you are just as cool as Newman under pressure. :)

Glad you are ok.

[Redbaron]

you just offended the man arnie :) glad u still walkin bird man! :yo:


Birdy

You already look like a young Paul Newman , and now you prove you are just as cool as Newman under pressure. :)

Glad you are ok.

[Gyro_Kai]

Glad you jumped off the shovel once more, birdie. Thanks for sharing. One thing sure to remember.

Kai

[Resasi]

Birdie, certainly glad to hear that the pi55... after the landing was uneventful.:)

Obviously not the same sort of knife C. Dundee carries around.

[Friendly]

I am glad it work out well for you and us Birdy! We don't put check for loose items on our check list although you knife did not start out that way.

[birdy]

you just offended the man arnie glad u still walkin bird man!
I was thinkn the same thing Red. Not sure P N would like the comparison either.

[Mark E]

Yeah, woulda been a pity to lose a good knife like that after 40 years. Lucky ya caught it!

[gyroplanes]

Years ago a member of our chapter got cold while flying and pulled his gloves out of his pocket. One glove flew over his shoulder and got sucked into his unfiltered MAC carb. Tom landed in a Holiday Inn parking lot with a flooded engine.

Dave was flying his unfiltered MAC Bensen and the drawstring form his sweatshirt (hoody) worked it's way out and got sucked down the carb. It didn't kill the MAC, but it held the throttle open. He landed back at the strip OK, but couldn't get out of the seat as his neck was restrained by the drawstring and carb.

[BUD ONEAL]

And that was the ending of the"Red Baron" scarf fliers!!

[Aussie_Paul]

..I believe that back in the sixties, when my Dad was flying a Mac, there was a report in the PRA magazine that the rotor tie down rope came out of a guys pocket. The rope went up into the rotor head and was drawn in to the bearing which over heated from the friction and failed killing the unlucky guy.

Aussie Paul. :)

[Aussie_Paul]

..Back in the 80s a mate with a direct drive VW Bensen was to demonstrate his gyro at a flyin/airshow. This was his first time conducting a demo and he told me he was a little nervous. He was doing his routine throwing the gyro around somewhat when there was a loud bang and he has to land engine out in the field next door to the air strip.

He had taken off with out his set belt fastened and eventually the buckle end worked its way back to the timber prop with shattering results. :(

Aussie Paul. :)

[Aussie_Paul]

In the mid 80s I had a group of my work colleagues wanting to see me fly my VW Bensen. So, during lunch I fired up the VW in a farmers field. Half the district had turned up by now!!! I hand spun the rotors and taxied to the far end of the field, turned around and began the take off roll. All went well and lifted of with room to spare and as I turn my head to the crown I realised that my helmet was not secured!!!! Too late to land so I flew a quick circuit with my head down, landed, secured the helmet straps and took off again as if it was part of my routine.

It was at that moment I realised that I had a chip on my shoulder re losing my GA license due to Diabetes. Now I could fly with no interference from Authorities, so stuff them, I win.

That incident reminded me that whether flying a jet, GA, or gyro we must have discipline and respect for our aircraft. It was after this incident that I took the discipline of my GA training into my gyro flying.

Birdy, there might be a subtle little warning for you and all of us in your incident.

Aussie Paul. :)

[birdy]

Yeh PB, i recon it goes sumthn like "wake up idiot!!!!!". ;)

[Canadian Rhino]

Yeh PB, i recon it goes sumthn like "wake up idiot!!!!!". ;)
Sometimes dealing with the cutting edge of technology aint what its cracked up to be!
It must have been hard flying hanging on to two sticks at the same time and looking for the back side of just the right tree!
Eres to ya!:first: