Kolibri
FW and Gyros
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2014
- Messages
- 1,636
- Location
- Wyoming
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, 172, 172RG, 177, 206 -- Piper 180 -- RV-7A -- Calidus -- RAF2000 -- Sport Copter II and
- Total Flight Time
- 1000+
What's especially heartbreaking about this crash is that Mahler did not benefit from the freakishly good timing of two other RAFs (G-____ and ZU-RHO)
which crashed only a few feet after takeoff. Such timing saved the lives of 4 people. Had N5002E's rod end failed just after takeoff, Mahler and Wilt may have survived.
Tragically, however, the rod end handled a few extra seconds of control input, enough for N5002E to reach a fatal altitude for failure.
I harped on control rod end replacement a few years back, and I'll mention it again now:
PLEASE inspect at least the three outside lower control yoke rod ends (two are 3/8 and one is 1/4).
They take a lot of ground handling shock, and are in the worst of elements.
PLEASE take a mere hour of your time to at least remove them for careful scrutiny.
(I'll wager that you'll find corrosion on the shank that it otherwise invisible from a pre-flight. I did.)
For the price of an average lunch, you can replace them with Auroras.
For any paupers among us, PM me your name and address and I'll buy them for you with your promise of immediate installation.
During your preflight, PLEASE use a flashlight and hand mirror to carefully inspect your lower control yoke and its rod ends.
Safe flying,
Kolibri
which crashed only a few feet after takeoff. Such timing saved the lives of 4 people. Had N5002E's rod end failed just after takeoff, Mahler and Wilt may have survived.
Tragically, however, the rod end handled a few extra seconds of control input, enough for N5002E to reach a fatal altitude for failure.
I harped on control rod end replacement a few years back, and I'll mention it again now:
PLEASE inspect at least the three outside lower control yoke rod ends (two are 3/8 and one is 1/4).
They take a lot of ground handling shock, and are in the worst of elements.
PLEASE take a mere hour of your time to at least remove them for careful scrutiny.
(I'll wager that you'll find corrosion on the shank that it otherwise invisible from a pre-flight. I did.)
For the price of an average lunch, you can replace them with Auroras.
For any paupers among us, PM me your name and address and I'll buy them for you with your promise of immediate installation.
During your preflight, PLEASE use a flashlight and hand mirror to carefully inspect your lower control yoke and its rod ends.
Safe flying,
Kolibri