Gyroplane Accident in Valparaiso, Indiana

[Brent Drake]

I have personally witnessed a RAF rollover. It happened not due to stability. But due to the pilot having full right rudder on landing. Thus when the nose wheel touches the ground, the machine goes into a hard right turn and causes an upset.
I've read your articles on the toe brakes. The Twinstarr has toe brakes and is the real only way to maneuver on the ground. They can be touchy if used at high speeds.


I'm glad to hear of your rebuild

 

[PPG Doug]

You really should have known better...

You really should have known better...

007,

Glad you will be rebuilding such a beautiful gyro. Excellent news. But if I can lend some advice...

You should have seen this coming when you finished your machine. Star Trek? Asking for trouble I say. As mentioned previously, the Klingons and Romulans are two cantankerous groups. :argue: They've always been envious and hostile towards Kirk. It was only a matter of time.

On the other hand, rebuild as the the Millenium Falcon and you are certain to have a bright future. Droids to help you with the build. A Wookie that knows how to turn a wrench.

Also, think about it, Darth (aka: dad) is dead. He killed the Emperor before dying himself. The Dark Side is defeated. Who's left to oppose you? No one! Who is around to support you, Jedi Knights of course. Come on. How can you go wrong?

Just think about it and May The Force Be With You! :laser:

 

[GyroDoug]

It's scary but it makes sense. Hard to argue with the logic. Tough to beat having the force on your side too. It's worth considering.

Gyro Doug

 

[Mark Sanders]

Mark:

Thanks for the pictures of your incident. You can really understand what I'm going through right now. Your pictures are an inspriation!!! I hope we meet in person one day.

And to all of my fellow gyro flying Friends:

I have been giving the entire episode a lot of thought and I have finally made a decision:

I AM GOING TO REBUILD!!!

Actually for me there was no other choice. Flying my gyro has given me so much enjoyment. And this time I will build it even better!!!


Best regards,

Bob

That will ease the trauma and fill the void. I am shooting for Mentone in august maybe see you their. I tell you that I am feeling better mentally now that time has past and the gyro is built again I have flown 9 hr since rebuilt. what I mean is you will feel better when time passes and your baby is well again.

 

[Gyropilot007]

Mark:

You know EXACTLY how I feel. I always call the gyro my "baby". I can't wait to have her healthy and flying again.

Bob

 

[Gyropilot007]

Now...regarding the "Star Trek" suggestion. Everyone knows that the Federation is much stronger than the "force". I'm sticking with Star Trek. And for the record, the Original Series (Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty) was the BEST!!!!!

Bob

 

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Here is a link to my boo-boo back in 2002.

https://home.att.net/~raf2000owners/tipped_it.htm

If you need any moral support during your rebuild, don't hesitate to email.

 

[Lee Scatt]

It gets violent right quick when the rotor hits ground.

 

[Gyropilot007]

Gary:

Thanks for the link. How about describing the circumstances of your rollover. I, for one, would be VERY interested.

Bob

 

[Gyropilot007]

Lee:

You got that right. It didn't get exciting until the rotor hit the runway. Then the gyro cartwheeled for about 25 - 30 feet!!!

Bob

 

[Gary_in_Orygun]

See my flight log for 8/2/2002 at https://home.att.net/~gary_air2/flights2.htm

My tip-over wasn't so dramatic with the flipping you described. I was in the air when my blades hit and the thing just kinda layed over on it's side with about 0 mph groundspeed from about 4 feet in the air. You can see a little yellow paint scrapped on the runway. There was also a little knee skin on the runway too where my leg hung out the door, even though I was wearing pants. (They ripped.)

 

[Timchick]

Great news to hear you'll rebuild, Bob.

Mark, Great to hear you're getting back in the air.

Gary, what did you have to replace after your mishap?

 

[Mark Sanders]

mark your rebuild looks good,alot better then that sad pic of it laying on it side on the trailer. keep us posted.


Bob glad you are going to rebuild, I for one will be watching and cheering ya on.

that was BAR NONE the nicest RAF modifed Gyro I have laid eyes on. you did everything right to make that a safe and Stable gyro and I am so glad you are going to rebuild so that so machine sets the standard for other RAF mods to follow short of an AAI conversion.
hopefully your rebuild will go quickly and not cost and arm and a leg.

just take one day at a time and you will be back in the air before you know it.

Your right tim I shed many tears for two weeks after and we were on vacation to see relatives and some attractions wile on are trip it's hard to visit and have a good time when your crying through sun glasses.

 

[Mark Sanders]

Now...regarding the "Star Trek" suggestion. Everyone knows that the Federation is much stronger than the "force". I'm sticking with Star Trek. And for the record, the Original Series (Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty) was the BEST!!!!!

Bob

I am with you Bob the best!

 

[Mark Sanders]

Great news to hear you'll rebuild, Bob.

Mark, Great to hear you're getting back in the air.

Gary, what did you have to replace after your mishap?

High Tim yes I am comeing out from under my ROCK!

 

[GyroRon]

007,

Glad you will be rebuilding such a beautiful gyro. Excellent news. But if I can lend some advice...

You should have seen this coming when you finished your machine. Star Trek? Asking for trouble I say. As mentioned previously, the Klingons and Romulans are two cantankerous groups. :argue: They've always been envious and hostile towards Kirk. It was only a matter of time.

On the other hand, rebuild as the the Millenium Falcon and you are certain to have a bright future. Droids to help you with the build. A Wookie that knows how to turn a wrench.

Also, think about it, Darth (aka: dad) is dead. He killed the Emperor before dying himself. The Dark Side is defeated. Who's left to oppose you? No one! Who is around to support you, Jedi Knights of course. Come on. How can you go wrong?

Just think about it and May The Force Be With You! :laser:

Doug, your the man!!!!!!!!

 

[LARRYEBOYER]

Bob. Great talking to you. As harry posted, I have a lot of parts I purchased also. So if I can be of help, you know my number. best of luck in 2008.
All gyro heads. Always manage your rotor blades till the lift is gone, then manage them till they stop( so you don't hit anyone or your self.) Bill ortmyer 2000.

 

[NoWingsAttached]

Well, I've been havin too much fun flying to read webstuff, so I just saw this tonight...after flying...

Bob, I suffered as you are now, back in August, a little different scene, but same outcome: Bad landing, rollover and crash. Rollovers really tear $#!^ up, eh? My wife about lost it when I called her from the emergency room hours after I shoulda been home. Lotsa water works. ANd she wanted me to quit gyros too. My ER doc gave me a ride back to my hangar, like an hour out of his way, after his shift at 2:00am.

My solution? In Nov I bought another cheap gyro to fly around in until I get my tandem baby repaired. It is far from the same, but, I am really glad I did it. Great therapy, and a new appreciation for the original machine.

So that's my suggestion. Get yourself a cheap little single place and get out there and have some fun again when it warms up. You can always sell it when your RAF is finished.

 

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Deleted duplicate

 

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Gary, what did you have to replace after your mishap?

I replaced everything RAF said to replace after a roll-over (to lazy to go dig it out and type it all in here now). That was before they came out with the list. They said to check the engine crank after a prop strike, but I replaced the block with a new-to-me one that I knew didn't sit in a snow bank prior to me getting it (it was said RAF bought a bunch of flood damaged engines and had them sitting outside until they were shipped to customers.) Also, the block that I had that came from RAF had a pinhole leak around one of the valves.

I didn't replace the big redrive mounting plate right away. But when I first started the engine the belt slipped off the big belt cog. It turned out that the plate had a slight bend, so we stuck it in a press and bent it back. But it later developed a crack so I got a new one. I've heard of other plates cracking too that weren't in a roll-over, so it is something to keep an eye on. Years ago I posted all that on Norm's forum including pictures. Wish I would have saved all those posts.