Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: Sting Sport Woodcomp blade loss

O.k. - that makes a WHOLE lot more sense... :)

Brian

--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Watson" <bill@...> wrote:
>
> The cable is to keep the engine on the plane, not the prop blade. Note it
> was said that the engine mount was not in good shape and that was for only a
> couple of seconds. Ponder if the carb boots *didn't* come off. Along with a
> clean jumpsuit, you'd need new false teeth as the old ones would have
> rattled out of your head. --Bill
>
>
>
> From: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of Brian
> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 10:14 AM
> To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: Sting Sport Woodcomp blade
> loss
>
>
>
>
>
> Bill - that's a new one by me (the safety cable). I think I almost would
> rather the blade depart in whatever fashion rather than flopping around
> possibly beating the front end to death in the matter of seconds it would
> take to shut the engine down. But I'm sure there are smarter minds than mine
> developing that type of system. :)
>
> Alex - the StingSport of ours is a Rotax 912ULS. From my understanding is
> the Sting Sport is the only LSA in the US that uses the Woodcomp prop
> blades. They're pretty easy to identify as they have the brand manufacture
> label right on the blades. The serial #'s are at the base of each blade
> (heck - I didn't even know prop blades HAD serial numbers until this
> happened).
>
> Brian
>
> --- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com> , "Bill Watson" <bill@> wrote:
> >
> > Some planes have a safety cable from the frame to the engine to keep the
> > weight and balance somewhat proper if the engine tries to abandon ship.
> > Planes with multi-pieced props and intolerant of such changes to their W&B
> > might benefit from such a cable. You may not land where you wanted, but at
> > least it wouldn't be tail first or in a spin.
> >
> > Bill Watson
> >
> > bill@
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > On Behalf Of circicirci
> > Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 9:10 AM
> > To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: Sting Sport Woodcomp blade
> > loss
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Wow! Both your AND Ed's report --that the carbs jumped off and shut down
> the
> > engine when the prop unbalanced -- suggests to me:
> > a)that unplanned "fail safe" feature MAY have saved your asses by keeping
> > the spinning prop from doing more catastrophic damage and leaving you
> going
> > down in uncontrollable planes.
> > b) That if ever faced with a horrible engine vibration -- or actually KNOW
> > you've just thrown a prop, jumping right on the mag switches to shut it
> down
> > PROMPTLY could be a lifesaver.
> >
> > By the way: What's your engine type/model?
> > Asking to see if it's the same as mine if my Rotax 912 might have those
> > same, er, "fail-safe-pop-off-on-prop-unbalance" "feature"? <g>
> >
> > Alex
> >
> > --- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com> , "Brian" <brian@> wrote :
> > >
> > > Oh yeah the whole front end of the plane was vibrating rather violently
> -
> > but the whole process lasted maybe 2 to 3 seconds before it was all over.
> I
> > had enough time to pull back on the throttle and level out (quickly mind
> > you) to at least try to see what was going on - but by the time I reached
> a
> > level attitude the engine had quit.
> > >
> > > I haven't seen the plane since we've moved it, but from my understanding
> > from one of the plane partners (who is also an A&P) the carbs shook loose
> > from the rubber mounts - and that's what probably led to the engine
> > quitting.
> > >
> > > I also would imagine if the engine would continue to run it could
> > certainly vibrate off the plane. As it stands now the engine mount is bent
> > and the firewall has a crack at one of the mount points. I'll get up to
> the
> > airport and see it in person on Sunday. Right now I'm working off of
> reports
> > from other partners in the plane who have seen it first hand.
> > >
> > > The FAA was out today and the insurance adjustor should be out soon.
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > > --- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:Sport_Aircraft%40yahoogroups.com> , "circicirci" <acensor@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Really glad to hear the report in this form rather than the "error
> chain
> > that lead to fatality" type.
> > > >
> > > > Couple of thoughts and questions:..........
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ....I'm curious: When the prop threw its two blades (appears to be the
> > case from your description and the photo with the article) didn't the
> engine
> > start vibrating/shaking horribly immeadiatly from the one unbalance blade
> on
> > the hub?
> > > > I would think in some cases such a configuration/situation the
> unbalance
> > might be able to even rip the motor right off its mounts leaving the pilot
> > with a plane so badly out of balance as to be uncontrollable?
> > > >
> > > > Alex
> > > >
> >
>




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