My trip didn't go very well

[PT13Pilot]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Forrest,
I left you a message on the phone. In answer to your question, yes, I feel it was the valve. Feds don't care and didn't even look, at anything really. I'm gearing up for the worst. Won't know till I tear into her. Did everything by the book, with plenty of "fudge", and still ended up in a yard. Was heading for Latrobe when it quit, but it wouldn't have mattered I wouldn't have made it. Trying to mount a rescue at this point. Dave's trying to come up with a way to transport it via road together if possible. We'd still be ahead if the money was spent getting it to an airport together with permits (like moving a house) versus a demate which is a huge deal, and still have an airplane in pieces 700 miles away. The airport is only 5 miles away. Call me and I'll tell you about it if you want. 573-512-1454. Had a new valve waiting for me at home, the owner got on the list and got his the day I left to go get the thing. The owner is glad I'm alive and nothing on the ground was damaged, but I haven't slept much since and just itching to tear into her and figure out what went wrong.
And at this point, if you're going to ferry one, change the valve before you leave, or don't use the aux tank!!! Or make damn sure YOU do the pressure test on the old valve to your liking, turn it on, and if it works don't touch it. That's my $.02. I left myself every concieable out, and still ended up in a yard.
CJ

[Forrest Barber]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Sorry to learn to late to help out... Dave Whitaker alerted me, I have been off internet for two weeks, weather, family health, projects, etc.... GOOD job. Remember it is the NTSB that does the investigations. The FAA are delegated by them to collect the info ; same as our State Highway Patrol over here in Ohio... e-mail me direct some time, was it the fuel valve?? I have to ferry one also . Doug Taylor is buying one over here in Ohio. Snow shut 2D1 down . I pick folks up at 3G6 or Salem Airpark when they come to visit. Again good job...... smooth as the Hudson River?

[N74DV]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

And where I ended up seems to be an airplane magnet. The head of emergency services said they've had a ton of airplanes go down there in recent years, a 310 with 3 FAA guys in it smeared the side of a hill within a few miles and less than a year ago, he rattled off several more, and he also said I was within a few miles of where Flight 93 went in on 9/11. So those people have quite a few reasons to not like aviation.

a new Bermuda Triangle of sorts perhaps?!

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Wow Chris!

I am glad that you faired well, obviously there was a great deal of skill on your part.

Happy to see & hear that you are safe.

Dave

[Robert Lees]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Nice job. I hope I have the same presence of mind when it happens to me. What more is there to say?

Can you ask the owner to rename the aeroplane "Icy" when it's sorted? Long story, involving a beach...I'll tell you later.

You did even better than that lousy Airbus pilot in the Hudson...I don't think that aeroplane will be flying again, eh?:doh:

(I'll get my coat).

[Laz]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Chris,

What an oustanding job you did. With that in you log book perhaps you could go to work for US Airways. Seems that even the highly advanced A320 still needs to rely on plain old flying skill like yours when both motors quit.

I am sorry to hear you were treated badly by the FAA. Like anyting else there are good and bad out there. I took my flight instructor test in My 46 T-craft in 1972. On the last landing the right shock cord let go. The safety cable caught and all we had to do was push the plane off the runway. He helped me tie the gear back in place with rope so we I could taxi it back. After he signed off my flight instructor ticket, I asked if he would give me a ride to town so I cold find a ride back to Ohio University where I was in School. I said there was no place to find a Shock cord that late in the day. He said " what shock cord" gave me a prop and off I went back to OU.

Congradulations again on your skill in the Navion. If you ever fly thru northern Ohio again give me a call and I will take you to lunch.

Mike

Port Clinton Airport
419-573-5043

[trying hard]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Wow, well done and respect to you.

[pftcraft]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Did I ever tell you about the time I ditched the Lazair in the pond on the golf course..... in 1983.. we tend to be survivors I guess.. Good on ya ! Fer' survivin'..

[Edwin Otha]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune,airplanes can be rebuilt. My opinion is that you did a wonderful job in handling this emergency. The FAA inspectors that were at the site should have had more compassion about your accident. They probably saw it as more work for them to do. Not all of them are cut from the same cloth.
We were fortunate enough to have a L-2 on it's back between runways late on a Friday. We made a call to the FSDO and asked if we could remove the wreckage to the hanger and start repairs. They wanted to know the extent of the damage, approved our request and they scheduled a visit for Monday. I told them it broke the prop and windshield and crushed the cowling, vertical stabilizer and rudder. When they arrived Monday morning we offered them coffee and explained there would be about an hour delay because the plane was doing pattern work. Both of the shook their heads and walked out. Never heard another thing about it.
EO

[PT13Pilot]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Bill,
I was thinking the same thing. I couldn't agree more. I'll figure something out along those lines. I've recovered airplanes from places that the land owner threatened everything up to and including death if you harmed a blade of grass. Especially the home owners in my incident deserve something. Apparently that area was supposed to have high winds today, the owner called the owner of the Navion and asked how he could protect it. Then apparently went out and tied it down!!!! I was beginning to think these people didn't exist any more.
And where I ended up seems to be an airplane magnet. The head of emergency services said they've had a ton of airplanes go down there in recent years, a 310 with 3 FAA guys in it smeared the side of a hill within a few miles and less than a year ago, he rattled off several more, and he also said I was within a few miles of where Flight 93 went in on 9/11. So those people have quite a few reasons to not like aviation.

[VictorBravo]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

My appreciation to all of them is imeasurable.

Chris, maybe think about sending some of those people a thank you card, or a little gadget gift, or a gift certificate at the local nice restaurant, etc. I've done that one or two times when the whole world came out to assist me in a similar situation. It's good PR for general aviation and makes people prouder that they helped you (even if they probably weren't asking for anything in the first place).

Bill

[VictorBravo]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

I was lucky to as a local farmer allowed us to use his tractor and trailer to move the bellanca out of the field, store it on his farm for a week, and use any tools we needed. I was blesses that day.

That's a wonderful example of how aviation brings out the best in non-aviation people, and gives city people like myself renewed faith in others. I've had some experiences along those lines and so have many many airplane people.

[PT13Pilot]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Amen to that! All the EMS people were amazing, brought me coffee, let me warm up in there trucks, asked if I needed anything at all for the over 3 hours I waited. The homeowner who now has a new lawn ornament even said it can stay there till summer if need be, kept telling me she was just glad I was alright and do what I needed to do. She also brought me coffee and before she left said she had left the back door open in case I needed a bathroom or just a place to relax. My appreciation to all of them is imeasurable.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Mine was even better. They did not even bother to come out since no damage was done to private property nor any injury but minor bruises to myself. We were able to move it out of the field before the FAA decided to investigate 3 days later! Then we were planning to move it home due to weather coming in and they did not want us to touch it. I told them either we moved it or they were financialy responsible and my attorney would be the next person they talked to. They promptly released it and was able to move it 300 miles home. It gets even better than this but I will leave that for another time.

I was lucky to as a local farmer allowed us to use his tractor and trailer to move the bellanca out of the field, store it on his farm for a week, and use any tools we needed. I was blesses that day.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: My trip didn't go very well

Mine was even better. They did not even bother to come out since no damage was done to private property nor any injury but minor bruises to myself. We were able to move it out of the field before the FAA decided to investigate 3 days later! Then we were planning to move it home due to weather coming in and they did not want us to touch it. I told them either we moved it or they were financialy responsible and my attorney would be the next person they talked to. They promptly released it and was able to move it 300 miles home. It gets even better than this but I will leave that for another time.