I'm about sick of it all! [Archive]

scottessex

01-11-2005, 12:51 PM

Well I installed the spring on the nose wheel it seemed to help alot, plus I decided to put the seatbelt on, just in case. I was taxiing down the runway at about 15 mph or so, and the nose wheel breaks off, the gyro endo's like 2 times, ate the tail, ate the prop, boom instrument pod, bent the **** out of all the new stuff I just built. Maybe it's time to hang it up, I just took a pay cut at work, I am not going to be able to build another gyro at this time. Thank God I put the seat belt on, but I am tired of it.

GyroTyro

01-11-2005, 01:00 PM

Maybe its time to get some Broads and Booze and forget your troubles for a while. :rolleyes:

Walt

chuter

01-11-2005, 01:17 PM

Sorry to hear about your smash up. That's something I'm really afraid of; having a "minor" accident when I first start flying, and being so broke and discouraged I won't rebuild. Sleep on it for a few days.

ben

01-11-2005, 01:19 PM

hey scott,i'm truley sorry to hear about what happend !!!!! but pard dont give up on it now,

jucie

01-11-2005, 01:58 PM

I am sorry, Scott. I can understand your feelings. Give yourself some time.

Victor Duarte

01-11-2005, 02:34 PM

Hey scott, sorry
that may happen to all of those who build something..
have a breath and don't hang up please. Wait for tomorrow to come.
I hope you will come back with "i decided to repair"
cheers

01-11-2005, 02:48 PM

Scott,

Sorry to hear of your loss. You must be really frustrated and disappointed right now. In time, those feelings will pass. I hope, when a little time passes, you'll let us know the specifics on what part of the nose wheel broke and maybe a picture or two of broken part.

StanFoster

01-11-2005, 03:02 PM

Scott: Sorry to hear your mishap.....but...sleep on it....then just pick one thing to fix at a time.....you will soon be back....

Stan

CLS447

01-11-2005, 03:05 PM

Scott,

We are very sorry to hear about this incident. We are glad you are alright.

Couple months ago, Shar and I were just ready to break ground with a set of 30ft RAF blades and we had a nosewheel shimmy that tore our steering linkages off. We installed new ones with minor changes and tried a high speed taxi without blades. We got the same thing.
I never cared for my nosewheel on my 2 place. I think we have a bent wheel. We are in the process of redesigning the whole nosewheel and steering assembly.
I realized that if the nosewheel were to break off the machine would get really trashed and we might get hurt.

Shar and I were looking closely at your nosewheel assembly this morning and I was going to ask for closeups of it. Especially after we read about your shimmy problem.
We are truly sorry to hear this and hope you can somehow make the best of this situation. We also talked about going to BD to be able to see your new machine. We still hope to see you there. Maybe you could show us where and how it broke to help us in our redesign.

Thanks Chris & Shar

GyroRon

01-11-2005, 03:18 PM

Sorry Scott....

Eddie Woods

01-11-2005, 03:29 PM

You didn't get HURT and you didn't WACK you're Blades !! Dust yourself off drag it back to your hanger . Kiss the wife grab a cold beer forget it .In the morning it will only be half as bad .
Best of luck Eddie

Alan Coats

01-11-2005, 03:31 PM

Scott,

Sorry, man. Let it sit awhile, then go back and look it over. The needed repairs might look less daunting later.

I have certainly enjoyed following your progress, and hope you can get back to it soon.

Alan

GyroRon

01-11-2005, 04:05 PM

I just got off the phone with Scott, he will be okay. Just sucks after spending so much time making a gyro from scratch more or less and spending the time to do it right and not cut corners, and then this. We will get him in the air soon!

Weird thing is.... Didn't even think about it till a minute ago.... Is today I am wearing my SX Days fly in T-shirt.

B8MFlorida

01-11-2005, 04:20 PM

Scott-
I know how I felt when I trashed a new set of Bensen blades.
Of all days it was on my Birthday like 10 years ago. I still haven't gotten over it, but have moved on.
I feel sorry for you and all of the guys that spent many years, dollars and time on their homebuilts just to have it destroyed within the first minutes/seconds of flight.
Add on top of that most of those homebuilders didn't carry hull insurance.
In a round about way it's almost the nature of the business we chose to be in that there will be disapointments as well as some of the best memories of a life time.
Keep your chin up...........better days are ahead!!!!
John

Jerseywing

01-11-2005, 04:52 PM

Scott,
Thank god you had your seatbelt on. You walked away from it. Thats what matters
Screw the gyro... it is stuff and can be fixed you aren't.
Give it a little time, scope it out, and give it some TLC.
Before you know it, it'll be a war story to BS about at fly-ins. :cool:

Mike

skyguynca

01-11-2005, 05:58 PM

Scott, sorry to hear that happened. Check your private message and see if that helps.

Timchick

01-11-2005, 06:11 PM

Scott,
Glad to hear you weren't hurt. Like some of the others have already posted, the gyro can always be fixed. The seatbelt was a very good idea. Hope to see you at Bensen Days. Don't skip it!

Friendly

01-11-2005, 06:37 PM

Scott
We have all followed your rebuit with excitement as well. I look at the super workmanship and think, man I got to do better than I am doing. A man who had done as much as you have done with your shop, home and gyro ain't quitting. Its in your blood, what are you going to replace it with??? you are a perfectionest. I ain't buying into you are quitting. You may be knocked down, I will bet your not out of the fight.
God Bless and restore your confidence and zeal.

RICK MARTIN

01-11-2005, 06:42 PM

Scott,
You may remember that I had an encounter with a ditch on an unmarked "taxiway" last July. It had taken me two years to finish my machine and in my very first 5 minutes of taxiing I trashed my new blades, new prop, custom tail, nose gear, mast, rotor head and an engine mount (there went $2800.00 that I didn't have). And I am also operating on a limited budget. I'll never forget that feeling. But in the next 5 minutes I had resolved not to let up until I was safely in the air. Now 7 months later I'm back where I was before the accident and I will not quit until I reach my goal.
I am not walking in your shoes, but unless there are some extreme circumstances I sure would like to see you take a deep breath, analyze, re-focus and pesevere. We're all here with you!!!

Screw

01-11-2005, 07:30 PM

Screw-In

Great Posts all. I especially agree with #11 :D Scott, your my friend, and we will get you a flying gyro soon.

Come to think of it, today, I wore my SX Days T-shirt. Me and Ron were twins hundreds of miles away and thinking of you. Aint that sweet? Keep your chin up boy, we all love ya.

Screw-Out

bones

01-11-2005, 07:54 PM

Scott, man do i know how you feel, about a week ago i ripped the engine out to do a good check over before i got busy, dropped the magneto fly wheel on the concrete, f**ked it completly, so i'm up for $650 and it was just one of those things to test you, i went to the pub for about 4 hrs it didnt seem quiet that bad then :)

Eddie Woods

01-12-2005, 01:33 AM

Brent_Brown

01-12-2005, 03:17 AM

Sorry to here this. I'm glade you are OK. I can make another tail for you when you get started again.

gyroblackwell

01-12-2005, 03:46 AM

O.K. gang .... maybe a pitchin will help scott get back in the spirit!

I have a collection of odd parts .... left over lengths of 2x2 2" tubing ....

Just let us know what you need to replace scott, and We the fellow Gyro Nuts should be able to come up with stuff to help the cause .....

How about it guys .... you all must have some left-overs .... AN hardware, a rim/wheel, ....etc ?

Alan Coats

01-12-2005, 04:44 AM

Scott,

There was some discussion about the cable on your gyro in the "More Progress" thread (which I always looked forward to reading).

I hate that you had your unfortunate incident, but since you did, could you please tell us how the cable affected the outcome? Did it make you safer, or not?

Thanks,
Alan

fdarby

01-12-2005, 04:49 AM

Scott, I am sorry about the accident. Glad you are not hurt.

scottessex

01-12-2005, 05:13 AM

Thanks for all the support, Yesterday, as you can imagine, I was frustrated, angry, etc. Yes, and thankfull that I was not hurt, I guess nobody thinks about ground accidents. I wasn't wearing a helmet, I wasn't going to fly. But something told me to install the seatbelt before I went out to taxi.

It looks like the nose wheel failed right above the lower bearing in the bicycle steering head, maybe bicycle parts are not a good idea for all of you that may be using a similar setup

I will take some time to look over the damage and figure out what I need to do,
It's not the money so much as the time I have invested in the project.

I'm not going to quit, Just sick about it, just a major setback

Rotornut

01-12-2005, 05:44 AM

Scott, Sorry about the nose wheel and all.
You can still make it down for BD Days 2005.
I am sure Ron Awad will let you fly his gyro. If not we can always get you some time in with a two place like Davie Seace. So dont miss out. MJ :)

Dean_Dolph

01-12-2005, 06:13 AM

Scott, it is good to see someone with the good sense to fasten the seat belt when moving a machine. This is certainly a tough loss in time and money, especially the time since you can't get any more of that but the fact that you came out uninjured is what is important.

Being tossed from a moving gyro has happened to others and I recall Craig Wall telling the story about taxing, just as you were, to test something or other, and hit the brakes and they worked better than he anticpated and he ended up with a nasty bump on the head when he left the machine. There have been others who never intended to leave the ground while taxi testing but did without either the seat belt fastened or a helmet, not good. It makes one think that maybe a helmet and the seat belt should be used any time the seat is occupied with the engine running.

Cobra

01-12-2005, 06:43 AM

Do you happen to know how much weight was on the wheel/shaft at rest?

Harry_S.

01-12-2005, 06:46 AM

Hang tough Scott. :mad: :)

Screw

01-12-2005, 07:00 AM

Screw-In

If I remember, I think the wieght was around 215-240 without blades.

I like the pitch in idea. I got cable!

Screw-Out

GyroRon

01-12-2005, 07:00 AM

Harry why you not show up at New Years fly in? Was looking forwards to meeting you. Hope to see you Bensen Days

Harry_S.

01-12-2005, 07:13 AM

My bride has had a total knee replacement and it has kept me pretty close to home, Ron. She is getting around the house rather well now...but I'm still the chaffeur, shopper. dog walker and whatever...I do sneak out to the airport every couple days for my fix.

I plan on being at Bensen Days for a partial day tho. Thank you.

Cheers :)

LGoodhind

01-12-2005, 07:14 AM

>It looks like the nose wheel failed right above the lower bearing in the bicycle steering head, maybe bicycle parts are not a good idea for all of you that may be using a similar setup

Hey Scott- Glad to hear you came out okay and had your seatbelt on. I'm using a bmx-style fork with a similar bearing. Were you using a bicycle fork? If so did you use the standard down tube that came with it? Machined tube with a series of steps? If you could post a closeup photo of the break when you're up for it that would be greatly appreciated.

GyroRon

01-12-2005, 07:16 AM

Larry.... Man you have been missed here! How is your gyro coming along?

Steve McGowan

01-12-2005, 07:46 AM

Atleast you didn't get hurt.. I DO know the feeling.,, Hell I TRASHED 3 gyro's before I even knew how to stop the crazy thing..And then BROKE one completely in two pieces after I figured it out..Remember I use to be 7'tall.

Disgust is a terrible thing,, but a neck and back brace is worse..

Keep the FAITH... it gets better..

me&BOO

PW_Plack

01-12-2005, 02:00 PM

Scott,

The seatbelt habit saved my life once.

As for helmets when you don't intend to fly, think about it...you'll probably only ever need one when at least one wheel is on the ground.

jucie

01-12-2005, 02:13 PM

I'm not going to quit

That's the way to go, Scott!!

scottessex

01-12-2005, 04:52 PM

I looked at the gyro today, it looks like the facory weld on the bike wheel, failed, right inside the steering neck, just pressed in and spot welded in 2 spots, I guess it was a bad idea.
Rick Abercrombie flew down here in the Zenair and took a look at it also, Rick also filled up with the 20 gallons of av-gas John Stevens left here from his gyro. Thanks John! The keel is bent, the mast needs to come off and be checked, along with the gearbox etc. etc.
I just have to stand back and examine all my options right now, do some good inspections and evaluate the money and time I am looking at etc.
Thanks for all the support and positive encouragement.
Don't take any ground handling tests for granted! If you're in the seat you should fasten the seatbelt and put your helmet on.

Brian Jackson

01-12-2005, 06:19 PM

Scott,
Sorry I haven't chimed in until now, but I was incredibly saddened to learn of your mishap. But as many have previously said, you're alive and well, and aluminum is replaceable... hell, it's recycleable, but you are not.

Tim Blackwell had a good idea on an earlier post about helping you with materials, etc. I cannot do much monetarily at the moment, but I do have an extra 6' long piece of 6061-T6 2X2 tubing I can give to you if it would help with repairs. I could drive it down to Mentone where it could be bundled with Tim's stuff for shipment to you. I wish I could do more... But it kinda reminds me of a grade school story called "Stone Soup." Look it up sometime, it's quite inspirational about community effort. God bless.

Your friend,
Brian Jackson

PW_Plack

01-12-2005, 06:24 PM

Hey Scott, just for fun, complain to the bike company. :)

Kevin_Richey

01-12-2005, 06:50 PM

Hey Scott, just for fun, complain to the bike company. :)

Yeah, tell 'em you were using their wheel and steering post for aviation purposes!!!!

Screw

01-12-2005, 09:21 PM

Screw-In

Got a PM tonite and spoke with Bud O'neal over the phone. He has donated a Dominator Tall Tail with Horizontal to help Scott out! All we got to do is go get it, or pay for for shipping!

You can't beat that! Bud, Scott and I both thank you, and will probably be down soon to pick it up.

You probably will never know how much this means to me and Scott, but you can bet we are here for you should you ever need anything.

God I love this forum!

Screw-Out

scottessex

01-13-2005, 12:20 AM

Y'all are being too good to me, I don't deserve this.
the generosity here is amazing. thanks

animal

01-13-2005, 06:41 AM

Scott,
Hope this will help .The best price I ever got materials
The Dillsburg Aeroplane Works (Charles T. Vogelsong)
114 Sawmill Road , Dillsburg,Pa 17019 Ph# 717-432-4587
he takes Cc.or a check and ships UPS every day . Nice old guy.
He has been around a long time and his material is marked .
I hope this helps . Eddie
yeah this is a great guy to do business with, I bought the steel to make the Rotorshaft for the Dusty2 helicopter from him,and it got here in about 2 days.
glad you posted this as i had lost his number.

Eddie Woods

01-13-2005, 03:32 PM

He also has bolts & nuts and will cut any size you need .Best of all you only pay for what you need . Ya don't have buy 10' if you only need 5 or 6 ! I drive up to his shop just nice people to deal with .

stuart

01-13-2005, 07:53 PM

Scott, I haven't visited the forum for a while; I was sure sorry to hear about your accident, but really relieved you weren't hurt. Hang in there, stuart

automan1223

01-14-2005, 08:17 AM

Oh my god scott, I know how you feel, or worse. This year started out on a good food but I have been ready to comit murder with all the crap I have had to put up with.

Scott, you are ok, you walked away from it thats the main thing. I know you feel like jumping off a bridge but remember , and I hate to say this because I have had so many failures and dissappointments that what henry ford said is true.

"Failure is the only opportunity to more intelligently begin again. "

I will take a photo of my beast nose wheel assy which has not given me any trouble and is fairly simple. Many expressed that they did not like it because it was a direct connection but it works just fine and is very stable even at high speeds.

Keep the faith scott, it cant rain forever.

Maybe consider building a mm2 or something that can take a pounding.

Jonathan

scottessex

01-14-2005, 09:18 AM

Thanks, I'm still trying to decide what action to take, rebuild/ start over/ scrap/ buy a flying gyro. I will try to decide this weekend.

automan1223

01-14-2005, 07:31 PM

Scott,

When I started my first (failure) a single seat bensen type setup clt, tall tail. I had a lot of local guys who USED to fly and were old school come in my shop and shake their heads and wag their fingers and their tongues. Mind you they were not any of my regular customers they were just giving me friendly used to know it all advice. One story that sticks out in my head and its true because I heard it from more than one mouth was this.

A guy was building bensen, He had great skill but tried to teach himself to fly it. He supposdly was a fw pilot and thought he could learn in a weekend. Story goes he trashed and thrashed his machine 7 times. The last time putting a permanent end to his gyro days when he seriously damaged both knees and threw in the towel.

Now my first machine for all purposes did 10 runs on my local strip and would not get off the ground. it was too small and too lightweight to put a larger engine on it and so I sold off all the stuff I had worked 2 years to put together. I also sold off the stuff for half of what I had into it. It really humbled me. One of lifes lessons.

Scott, you already know how to fly, you got caught with a stupid mfg defect. You should know to reweld any (crap) that comes from the store. How can they make a 10 speed bike for 39 bucks in walmart ? It has to be put together with recycled sewer pipe and slave labor. Which means I would not ride one if you gave it to me for that very same reason. A real fork off of a real bike would cost a few hundred dollars. A friend of mine got almost dead when his bike flipped over and he almost broke his neck when the fork rotated in the tube after hitting a small pothole in the city. I looked there was no weld and this was before walmart days.

Keep the faith.

Jonathan

Chopper Reid

01-15-2005, 03:27 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your mishap Scott but, this mishap brings me back to some of my posts on the forum when I ask how many hours has this or that particular part have in service or accumalated through other's using the same design. There are times when its just plain better to stick to proven designs and materials. I see lots of times when some of you guys are trying to re invent the wheel and thats fine but you have to wear it when the thing breaks.
I have been told us Aussies are 20 years behind you guys by Gyro Ron but when I read some posts, I reckon we are light years ahead of you guys!!
Thats just my opinion.

jucie

01-16-2005, 02:08 AM

There are times when its just plain better to stick to proven designs and materials...
... when I read some posts, I reckon we are light years ahead of you guys!!

No, no. I am ahead of everybody. I use only proven designs and materials nowadays: my feet. :( :D

I dont think Scott did bad by trying the idea of a bike whell. He had not luck with that specific mis welded fork. If the weld was good enough, we all would say "Oh, Scott, you did a great job by trying this innovation."

scottessex

01-16-2005, 04:46 AM

You all bring up good points, points that I have really been thinking about this week.
I may have something in the works, still trying to make a final decision.
Maybe I'll leave designing to all those engineer types, and go with a proven design, and quit playing "test pilot". I will keep you posted on what's going on. Any how thanks for all the support.

chuter

01-16-2005, 05:01 AM

Trying new designs vs. using proven designs: I've wrestled with this a lot. If I would have built a kit instead of building my own I would have been flying years ago, and sometimes I wish I had gone that way. At the same time, some folks just gotta try their own ideas; there's a certain satisfaction in that, even if it fails.

Hell, aircraft companies have loads of engineers and spend millions on designing new aircraft and they don't always work right the first time.

To each his own. There's no shame in trying something and failing. ;)