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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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Marv,
Please let the board know that I came through the forced, and I do mean
forced landing without a scratch or a bruse. To answer a few questions, I
was running a 3 blade wooden prop built by Colin Walker of B.C. This was
the third one I had purchased from him and had a total of 752 hours on the
trio. He makes a great prop and I am sure that the prop did not come apart
or fracture in flight. I would purchase another one in a minute if the
need arose. I suspect the problem was related to the low temperature and
lack of moisture we have had during the months following my annual in
August. During the annual I retorqued the bolts on the prop. I had not
flown the a/c but 10 or 15 hours since that time and the weather in S.
Texas has been void of moisture. On the day of the accident I departed
into IFR conditions and climbed to 13K . Once in the clear on top I headed
towards my destination. 15 minutes prior to the accident I noticed an oder
that smelled like something overheating. In a few minutes it was gone.
12 minutes later I noticed the same smell and soon after I heard a sound
like a gear door coming open or mag dropping out. I pulled the power back
and checked those systems. After about 30 seconds the noise quit and
everything became smooth again. REAL SMOOTH. It took about two minutes for
me to grasp the thought that the prop might have come off. I saw the tach
pegged at 3000 and pulled it back to 2500. The engine was still running
great just not doing anything. I declared an emergency and headed in the
only direction I knew for a paved road. All the surface below me and
behind was covered in brush, trees with hills and valleys. This all
happened at 6500 msl. I set it up for glide and looked for the road 6 or 7
miles away. I found the road and attempted a landing only to hit a power
line in my last minute turn to final. The rest was just a blur. I sheard
the rt. wing off, ripped off all three gear legs and a bunch of other crap.
Came to rest 300' from touchdown, cockpit intact, tail still together and
me without a scratch. 717SK gave me 8 years of fun and pleasure. We flew
all over the US and in end she save my life by taking the blows for me.
Can't ask for more.
I feel the cause was probably the prop bolts becoming loose from the dry
weather and the very cold temperatures at altitude that day. The wood
probably contracted and caused a bolt to become loose. A little wooble at
2400 rpm is all you need. I would recommend checking the torque fairly
often to be safe. I checked mine at every oil change when I was flying
15-20 hrs. per month. In closing, I think of poor Rich who died when he
lost his metal prop at OSH several years ago and become very thankful. By
the way, my wife says this was Gods way of telling me I have to many
airplanes. Thanks for the thoughts.
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
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