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+
Actually, the accident was the result of pilot error regarding a poorly designed nosewheel.the NTSB Factual report #CEN17LA302 states - "On August 3, 2017, about 0917 central daylight time, a Hake MTO Sport gyroplane, N571UJ, was substantially damaged when it tipped over on landing at Mentone Airport (C92), Mentone, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated about 0930. According to the pilot's accident report, when he touched down on the main landing gear, he applied "moderate" right rudder to maintain runway alignment and to avoid slipping. He stated he should have raised the nose to reduce airspeed, but instead he lowered the nose and struck the runway. The pilot explained that on this particular gyroplane, the nose wheel and rudder are interconnected; that is, the nose wheel does not pivot on a caster. When the gyroplane touched down, it 'jerked" abruptly to the right and tipped over. The pilot concluded, "This accident was the result of pilot error. There was no malfunction [of the gyroplane, flight controls, or engine]."
With a castering NW, he could have safely "applied "moderate" right rudder to maintain runway alignment and to avoid slipping" and touched down without tipping over.
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Because it's almost impossible to do so 100% of the time. You've admitted to some near tip-overs. I've had a couple of them myself.Its not rather the nose wheel castors or not its the pilot that's the basic problem.I was taught to land with the nose off the ground and keep the
cyclic back until stopped,in a low wind condition.If your landings are like that there wont be any forward speed for the nose to deal with.Everyone is
taught to land like that,so why don't they ?
Now, during takeoff rolls, even with perfect technique, a sudden gust or wind shear could cause an abrupt nose movement which even
an excellent pilot could neither anticipate nor correct in time.
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I'll stand by my assertion that a (trailing link) castering NW (with differential toe brakes) is the solution to the issue of linked-NW tip-overs.I feel it is a mistake to say only one system is correct and the rest are wrong.
And what's your time ratio of hard runways over such "soft or rutted" surfaces? 30:1? 80:1?On some soft or rutted surfaces I prefer a linked nose steering.
I prefer a trailing link castering NW, which will self-correct even over most soft and rutted surfaces.
I cannot recall any RAF experience of mine where I was glad that it had a hard-linked NW.
Below is a screenshot of Jim Vanek landing a Vortex M912 crabbed about 30 degrees, and then pushing up on two wheels.
Try that in any other gyro . . .
Sport Copter crossed up intentionally on landing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5zWLTQXcUI
Regards,
Kolibri
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