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Ed Anderson
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 475
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 Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject: Spectulation : RV Down |
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It appears to me that the RV-6A was landing (note the flaps full down) on a
grass strip that was soft from recent rains (note what appears to be muddy
tracks off the nose). Could be a case of the Nose wheel digs into the
soft soil and over she goes. No apparent damage to the main gear wheels, but
looks like damage to the nose gear. Doesn't appear to be any slide marks
after she flipped, so would bet there was just enough energy to tip her up
on her nose and over on her tail. Apparently no injury to the pilot as well
which indicates a low energy condition when she went over.
In my opinion, the small nose wheel on the RV-6A makes soft field take off
and landing an important technique that needs to be practiced. Taking off,
soft field, is fairly straight-forward with the stick back to your belly
button and partial flaps does a good job of keeping weight off the nose gear
and the prop sucks you into the air fairly quickly and easily.
But, landing under soft field conditions in a 6A requires a bit more
finesse. Need to keep a bit of power on with the nose elevated and drag it
in on the prop, letting the main gear touch, get the flaps off and keep the
nose up (with power as necessary) until you believe you are at a reasonably
firm place and slow enough to let that small nose gear gentle touch down.
I find that if I come in full-flaps and just as I flair add power so I have
approx 1300-1500 Prop rpm it will keep the nose up and off but won't provide
enough power to get me flying again. Needless to say on a short runway
this is difficult to execute - and how many of us practice doing that?.
I experienced an interesting soft field take off with my RV-6A on my way to
Texas. I I found that with the power/weight ratio, my RV-6A had only a
little problem accelerating (it was a bit slower). However, there was more
problem from the hydroplaning on the very soggy grass and trying to maintain
control at slower speeds with just the rudder as differential braking was
non-existant.
I resolved to practice such things more. However, somehow,I have not
manage to get it on the agenda as yet {:>).
its great to hear the pilot was uninjured - airplanes can be fixed.
Ed
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com
---
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_________________
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com |
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sawad13(at)msn.com
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:39 pm Post subject: Spectulation : RV Down |
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I flew Randy Pinkstons new RV-7A last weekend and I really don't think it
was measurably easier to takeoff or land than a taildragger. I don't see
much advantage to the nose wheel and not after seeing this flip over and
reading about all the flips overs discussed on the Vans Airforce Forum.
But to each his own..... 
Ron Awad
[quote]From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com>
Reply-To: rvsoutheast-list(at)matronics.com
To: <rvsoutheast-list(at)matronics.com>
Subject: Spectulation : RV Down
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 21:46:20 -0500
<eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com>
It appears to me that the RV-6A was landing (note the flaps full down) on
a
grass strip that was soft from recent rains (note what appears to be muddy
tracks off the nose). Could be a case of the Nose wheel digs into the
soft soil and over she goes. No apparent damage to the main gear wheels,
but
looks like damage to the nose gear. Doesn't appear to be any slide marks
after she flipped, so would bet there was just enough energy to tip her up
on her nose and over on her tail. Apparently no injury to the pilot as
well
which indicates a low energy condition when she went over.
In my opinion, the small nose wheel on the RV-6A makes soft field take off
and landing an important technique that needs to be practiced. Taking off,
soft field, is fairly straight-forward with the stick back to your belly
button and partial flaps does a good job of keeping weight off the nose
gear
and the prop sucks you into the air fairly quickly and easily.
But, landing under soft field conditions in a 6A requires a bit more
finesse. Need to keep a bit of power on with the nose elevated and drag it
in on the prop, letting the main gear touch, get the flaps off and keep
the
nose up (with power as necessary) until you believe you are at a reasonably
firm place and slow enough to let that small nose gear gentle touch down.
I find that if I come in full-flaps and just as I flair add power so I have
approx 1300-1500 Prop rpm it will keep the nose up and off but won't
provide
enough power to get me flying again. Needless to say on a short runway
this is difficult to execute - and how many of us practice doing that?.
I experienced an interesting soft field take off with my RV-6A on my way
to
Texas. I I found that with the power/weight ratio, my RV-6A had only a
little problem accelerating (it was a bit slower). However, there was more
problem from the hydroplaning on the very soggy grass and trying to
maintain
control at slower speeds with just the rudder as differential braking was
non-existant.
I resolved to practice such things more. However, somehow,I have not
manage to get it on the agenda as yet {:>).
its great to hear the pilot was uninjured - airplanes can be fixed.
Ed
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com
---
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Ed Anderson
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 475
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| Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject: Spectulation : RV Down |
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You're right, Ron. Each has benefits and drawbacks. But, don't think a
tail dragger can't be put up on its nose as well or fold a gear from not
correcting for a cross wind. My opinion is the tail dragger is more at risk
of going up on its nose on a concrete strip and a nose wheel more likely on
a soft grass strip. Having flown both types, the nose wheel (in my opinion)
makes landing in a hairy cross wind a bit easier, the tail dragger the
better for grass or rough strips.
If you land an RV like you should, your right, you should really not notice
any difference (as you discovered) between the nose gear and tail wheel
until you stop (and the tail isn't down {:>)).
Again, just my opinion and as the man said - everybody has one.
Ed
---
| | - The Matronics RVSouthEast-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RVSouthEast-List |
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_________________
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com |
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sawad13(at)msn.com
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: Spectulation : RV Down |
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I have flown Cessna Tricycle gear airplanes and they were super easy to
takeoff and land with. I guess I had expected Randys plane to have that same
feel since it too had tri gear.... But it felt just like a taildragger in
needed inputs to keep her straight.
Ron Awad
[quote]From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com>
Reply-To: rvsoutheast-list(at)matronics.com
To: <rvsoutheast-list(at)matronics.com>
Subject: Re: Spectulation : RV Down
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:07:04 -0500
<eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com>
You're right, Ron. Each has benefits and drawbacks. But, don't think a
tail dragger can't be put up on its nose as well or fold a gear from not
correcting for a cross wind. My opinion is the tail dragger is more at
risk
of going up on its nose on a concrete strip and a nose wheel more likely on
a soft grass strip. Having flown both types, the nose wheel (in my
opinion)
makes landing in a hairy cross wind a bit easier, the tail dragger the
better for grass or rough strips.
If you land an RV like you should, your right, you should really not notice
any difference (as you discovered) between the nose gear and tail wheel
until you stop (and the tail isn't down {:>)).
Again, just my opinion and as the man said - everybody has one.
Ed
---
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http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RVSouthEast-List |
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