Yes I know, mouse the springs.

[N96290]

Well I got my tailwheel endorsement finished today. I started at 8 this morning with one instructor and when he had to take off finished with another. The wind was getting up around 20 knots so when a 180 to taxi back turned into a 360 and ground handling got to be a problem we thought it was just the wind. The only way to control it taxing with the wind was with the brakes. We did several more circuits without taxing back as we had plenty of runway left and got our time in. I flew the plane about 30 miles home solo and landed without any problems but taxing in was still a real problem and wind was only about 10 Knots here. After I got it wrestled to my hanger and shut down I discovered one tailwheel steering spring was disconnected. That would explain why she seemed to have a mind of her own all of a sudden but being married I just shrugged my shoulders and dealt with it. When I get that fixed it might be more fun again.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Another lesson in life, bet you recognize the problem next time!

[astjp2]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Mine had 1 come off and I ground looped her!

[Taylor Maid]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Landing at Dayton International in a 60 degree crosswind of 20G35 winds, I not very gracefully got my airplane on the ground, then a spring decided to release....so I have natural crabbing into the wind and no counteracting rudder control. Braking was ineffective. I would up not tracking down the runway and heading for some lights. I decided if I was going off the runway, it was going to be on my own terms. I steered it between the ruway lights and yep, wound up in the grass. Tower came on and asked if I was ok and needed assistance. I just replied, "Nope, happens all the time...progressives to the FBO please!".

If I could have tucked my tail between my legs, you bet I would have!

I now have them secured with safety wire as well.

Congrats on your edorsement!

--Suzy

[Ryan]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Had one of the springs let go in the Pacer at a fly-in this summer, but fortunately the Pacer requires moving your feet alot to land anyway, so was able to keep ahead of it. The more embarrassing part (fortunate part for me) was since I kept it relatively straight (not running off the runway), everyone was ready to critique my bad landing in a taildragger!

[flyguy]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Don't mean to be dogmatic, but I've been flying 7 years on the same set of chrome key rings snapped on to Maule compression springs and not a single problem ever. Previous BC-12 flew for years with them also.

Maule's are closed looped at the end and you use 2 rings on each end so you have a backup in case one breaks. That is eight total. Much thicker metal than the "aircraft" links. (One will handle the load.)
Works fine, last a long time.

I think I am going go replace mine soon, as they are getting ugly and more difficult to check.
DC

[N96290]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

I am not sure what happened. There are the links which look like a large paper clip which was in the rudder arm holes and the springs hooked in the tail wheel arm holes with a couple links of the dog chain on the other ends of the springs. The paper clip link was all intact and I do not see how it could have come unhooked from the dog chain. There must have been another link of the chain that is now missing on this side. I know they seemed pretty loose but that was one of the things I planned to look at more closely when I got it back home. This is a Scott 2000 or whatever it was before. I did pick up a card of the 1/8" quick link threaded connectors to throw in the baggage sling for field repairs but I would like to get the best set up I can so they will not be needed. Enlighten me as I do not know much about these other than what I remember from discussions when it didn't count for me.

[flyguy]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

For starters you might want to do a search here as I found a lot of information.

If you are interested in my setup I can get pictures just as soon as I get past the worst of this Flu that I caught.

DC

[jim cooper]

Re: Yes I know, mouse the springs.

Well my tail springs were ok when I landed today on hard surface, wind,12 knots approx from left 90 degrees. A little fast coming in, tried a three point... , forced it ,too soon, went back up, and inspite of left wing down, up it came. It then had slowed down enough that it settled onto the runway and I let it coast out. I mean a real weird landing. Thankfully NO ONE saw it! JC