On Mon, 08 Nov 2004 22:40:41 GMT, "GE" wrote:

Read your policy, but most will pay for recovering the aircraft and
relocating it to either a storage facility or a repair shop. Since
your partner is OK (thank goodness),with any luck, it will go to a
repair shop. When people get hurt / killed, the wreckage typically
goes to a storage facility and stays there (sometimes for years) while
the lawyers fight in court.

I help recover wrecked aircraft for an outfit that is usually hired
by the insurance companies, and we're usually on scene within
1-3 days of the incident/accident. In other words, call your
insurance company and let them know what happened, they
will take it from there. I think you will find that nose gear failure
+ prop-strike = substantial damage.... (it'd be best to call/report
to the NTSB/FAA). Usually, if damage to a propeller can't be
"field-dressed" to make it airworthy again, it is a prop-strike and
you would at least need to have the crank dialed and get a ferry
prop + ferry permit to get the aircraft home. Seeing as how the
nosegear folded/failed (? assumed from your post), again, I would
think it would classify as substantial damage. Come to think of it,
all 20+ aircraft I have either seen recovered or been directly
involved with over the last year or so have had "substantial damage"
incurred when you read the NTSB reports (some weren't that bad... a
couple of taildraggers flipped over onto their backs, a C-210 landed
gear up, etc.). Some were quite bad indeed (nothing left but burned
up junk).

Once again, glad to hear your partner is OK. The airplane can
be fixed and/or replaced.

Bela P. Havasreti

Thanks for all of the advice so far. Unfortunately, the plane is not at
"home". The damage was at a field in a neighboring state, so I haven't seen
it. The plane is not flyable. There was damage to the nose gear and a prop
strike. My partner is going to contact the insurance company, we'll see what
happens from here.

Another question: I read part 830 of the FAR, and I'm uncertain whether or
not we have to report it to the NTSB. Section 830.5 sounds as if we do not
have to report it, but section 830.15 seems contradictory. Can anyone help
me sort this out?


"GE" wrote in message
...
Being new to airplane ownership, I would appreciate some advice from the
more seasoned guys out there. This weekend, my partner wrecked our plane.
He's okay, which is certainly the most important thing. I'm still not
certain of the details, but it sounds pretty bad. Of course I'll be
calling the insurance company today. The reason I'm writing is to gather
information on how we need to proceed from this point. I know there are
required reports, but primarily I am concerned with insurance pitfalls. I
have dealt with insurance claims and automobiles before, but I don't know
if there are any similarities or not. I do not know how to find reputable
repair shops or how to have the plane delivered to one. I don't know what
point must be reached for the plane to be totaled. In other words, I am
looking for any advice that I can so that I can make informed decisions
about the situation.

Thanks in advance for your help