Doug.....
Doug.....
Doug Riley said:
It could be unpleasant if the spring broke while you were flying hands-off or had a very light grip. I would not expect the result to be deadly unless the aircraft were very prone to PPO -- such the first-generation Air Commands were.
I get chills thinking how much I flew my scary old A.C. (no HS, inverted engine, low seat) hands-off while doing aerial photography back in the 80's. Fortunately THAT spring never broke.
......I did have the trim spring break while training. I had replaced the spring at the annual a few days earlier.
The student was progressing well BUT he was under confident so I had my hand sitting on my knee to give him some confidence. As we Joined a 500' base I put my hand down to that, side stick for me, and placed my fingers in front of the stick. The flight had been very smooth with a frost and still air. All of a sudden a pitch forward and the stick was stopped by my fingers.
I said to the student,” What did you do that for?" and he replied, "What did
YOU do that for?"
I told him to gently let go of the stick and I had quite a bit of pressure. I looked around and here was the trim spring hanging by the safety wire. I reduced power and flew down like a fixed wing so I did not have to flare too severely.
My student thought that I had jabbed the stick forward to test him!!!!!
The hook on the end of the NEW spring had broken off!!
If this had happened while my hand was on my knee I am sure that the student would have held it, but not a nice thought with the S X S A/C HTLM trainer.
This is a case of if it aint broke don't fix it!!!
Where is the happy medium between preventative maintenance and if it aint broke don't fix it?
Aussie Paul.
