Message-ID: <001101c10327$1c86f8e0$48eaa4d8@oemcomputer>
From: "Bill & Sue" <harrelson@erols.com>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
References: <20010702053308.AAA17265@pop3.olsusa.com>
Subject: Bill's Confession
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 14:45:04 -0400
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The other morning Sue and I were going to fly to Culpper for gas. I
preflighted in the hangar, pulled Bobbie's RV4 out, picked up the towbar,
pulled the Lancair out and then pushed the RV back in. Just then, Sue was
walking down from the house so I closed the hangar door, and we jumped in
and went. Normal taxi, normal takeoff, normal cruise and descent. Didn't get
a nosegear green at Culpepper though. Recycled with the same results. I have
a push to test button for the lights so I knew that it wasn't a bulb.
Finally I tried "shocking" it down by opening the dump valve slightly till
the pump ran and then quickly shutting it. That worked. I figured that it
was probably an adjustment of the micro switch on the linkage. Landed
normally and turned off onto the taxiway when the nosegear started
shimmying.  Stopped, shut down on the taxiway, got out and removed the
towbar!!!  Aaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

In 24,000 hours I've assembled a fairly lengthy list of "stupid flying
tricks". But that one has to be right at the top of the list of the dumbest
things I've ever done. Amazingly, other than bending the pin on the tow bar,
there was no damage. It could have been a real disaster. Can you imagine
what would have happened if I had landed on a grass or rough strip? Or even
some patches or bumps in the pavement? The tow bar would have either dug in
and probably snapped off the gear, or it would have bounced up into the
prop. As it was, all it did was slide along on the handle.

A few years ago I was sitting in the hangar when a neighbor taxied by for
takeoff in his Cessna. I was astounded to see the tow bar bouncing along in
front of the wheel. I ran out in front of him and signaled him to shut down.
He couldn't believe that he had forgotten it. I couldn't believe that
ANYBODY could be SO dumb. I knew, of course, that something like that could
never happen to me.

I decided to "fess up" to you guys on this one in the hope that my story
might help you (well, not actually you, but that other guy) avoid this
embarrassment (at best) or disaster (more likely).

BILL'S NEW TOW BAR PROCEDURE: If the airplane is not actually in motion
being pushed or pulled, the bar is off. If my hand leaves the handle, the
bar comes off. I will never leave the airplane with the tow bar hooked up
again for any reason. Not even for a second.

Bill Harrelson
N5ZQ


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