President of our local EAA chapter killed in inaugural flight

On Apr 15, 9:09 am, "Peter R." wrote:
Yesterday (Saturday) the president of our local EAA chapter here in Central
NY (USA) and a passenger were killed during the first takeoff of their
just-completed Lancair Legacy aircraft. Sadly they had invited family and
friends to witness this first flight.

According to the news article, the pilot/president was a former B-52 pilot
during the Vietnam war and had spent the last two years building the Lancair
Legacy.

From initial witness accounts speculation suggests engine failure on takeoff
followed by a turning stall.

http://tinyurl.com/2p9csw

--
Peter

First flight for the plane or the owners first personal flight in it?
I assume he had a professional do the intiial test flight.
-robert

On 4/15/2007 11:09:01 PM, "Robert M. Gary" wrote:

First flight for the plane or the owners first personal flight in it?

The news reports indicate that this was the first flight for the owner/pilot
built aircraft.

--
Peter

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

Simple: They just don't tell the FAA. There's no requirement for an FAA
representative to be there for the first flight. What they don't know,
they
can't stop.

Right. The sad part is, as president of an EAA chapter, he knew better, and
decided that the rules didn't apply to him.

It makes me mad. Incidents like this give us all a black eye.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:



Right. The sad part is, as president of an EAA chapter, he knew better, and
decided that the rules didn't apply to him.

It makes me mad. Incidents like this give us all a black eye.


I disagree. It gives EAA types a black eye.

Morgans wrote:

Ron Wanttaja wrote

Simple: They just don't tell the FAA. There's no requirement for an FAA
representative to be there for the first flight. What they don't know,
they can't stop.

Right. The sad part is, as president of an EAA chapter, he knew better, and
decided that the rules didn't apply to him.

It makes me mad. Incidents like this give us all a black eye.

We don't know the facts. From:

http://tinyurl.com/2yy7k

(An EAA Members Only web page):

"If there is a situation where the builder has a specific need for
additional crew in the aircraft during the fight test period, FAA
Advisory Circular AC 20-27E, CERTIFICATION AND OPERATION OF
AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT, offers the following advice:

“If an additional crew member is required for a particular test
function, that requirement should be specified in the application
program letter for the airworthiness certificate and listed in the
operating limitations by the FAA.”

The FAA will review each application on a case-by-case basis, and may
allow additional crew if they feel there is sufficient justification."


So, while unlikely, it is possible that this person got permission
from the FAA and had written into his op-limits that he could have a
2nd crewmember.

Personally, I'm very against this practice and always caution against
it (having done the first flight in my plane solo), but he MIGHT have
had permission, in which case there's no "black eye", or disobeying
the rules.

--
Marc J. Zeitlin
http://www.cozybuilders.org/
Copyright (c) 2007

"Marc J. Zeitlin" wrote

We don't know the facts. From:

http://tinyurl.com/2yy7k

So, while unlikely, it is possible that this person got permission
from the FAA and had written into his op-limits that he could have a 2nd
crewmember.

If it is show that he did have permission to take a second person, I will
make a public apology, on this forum.

I doubt that he did, also.
--
Jim in NC

On Apr 15, 9:09 am, "Peter R." wrote:
Yesterday (Saturday) the president of our local EAA chapter here in Central
NY (USA) and a passenger were killed during the first takeoff of their
just-completed Lancair Legacy aircraft. Sadly they had invited family and
friends to witness this first flight.

According to the news article, the pilot/president was a former B-52 pilot
during the Vietnam war and had spent the last two years building the Lancair
Legacy.

From initial witness accounts speculation suggests engine failure on takeoff
followed by a turning stall.

http://tinyurl.com/2p9csw

--
Peter

Cloaking Device Off

Peter,

Tragic news.

Prayers for the family and friends.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

Cloaking Device On

On Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:38:52 -0600, Newps wrote
in :



Morgans wrote:



Right. The sad part is, as president of an EAA chapter, he knew better, and
decided that the rules didn't apply to him.

It makes me mad. Incidents like this give us all a black eye.


I disagree. It gives EAA types a black eye.

I agree with you, but in the eyes of the lay public, it affects all
airmen.

On Apr 15, 1:43 pm, Orval Fairbairn wrote:
In article ,





"Morgans" wrote:
"Peter R." wrote

Yesterday (Saturday) the president of our local EAA chapter here in
Central
NY (USA) and a passenger were killed during the first takeoff of their
just-completed Lancair Legacy aircraft. Sadly they had invited family and
friends to witness this first flight.

According to the news article, the pilot/president was a former B-52 pilot
during the Vietnam war and had spent the last two years building the
Lancair
Legacy.

From initial witness accounts speculation suggests engine failure on
takeoff
followed by a turning stall.

http://tinyurl.com/2p9csw

Condolences, and prayers for the family.

Not to be unfeeling, but it sounds like someone who should know better
violated two rules, generally accepted by the homebuilt community.

First, why was there family at the airport? It is said that this makes a
person have extra pressure to take off, ready or not, and is hard on the
family if things go badly.

Two, why the HELL where there two people on board? Regulations do not allow
a passenger on the first 25 or 50 hours, depending on the assigned test
period. One more person and his family experienced tragedy, needlessly.

Do you know if he did a full power test, (for what is it, that is
recommended - 2 or 5 minutes?) with the nose up as high as takeoff and climb
attitude would be?

It seems as though this is an often skipped test, that is probably the most
important pre-flight test that exists. I hope that is not the case.

I echo the condolences to all involved.

That said, I was in a chapter in CA that had three fatalities two on the
respective first flights. In both of those the builders/pilots were
secretive about their planes and did not invite other chapter members to
view the planes before the first flight. Both planes had fatal flaws.

The third had an engine problem and attempted flight anyway.

Another man here did an auto conversion in a Mustang II (both very
crude) and had an engine failure, despite other's warnings not to fly.
He apparently had a V-belt fail, which flailed about the engine
compartment and took out the ignition wiring. The forced landing in a
golf course was fatal.

Better results occurred with a friend who built an RV-4. He was doing
taxi tests and reported control/response anomalies to a friend and
myself. We recognized the anomalies and asked to see the plane before it
flew. Between us, we spotted 60 discrepancies -- some minor -- some
major and safety threatening, such as a fuel line too near an exhaust
pipe and throttle/mixture controls mounted on am aluminum plate subject
to vibration/fatigue failure. He corrected all and went on to many happy
hours in the plane.

PLEASE, GUYS! Before you fly (or even taxi test) get as many sets of
eyeballs as you can to inspect, critique, improve your handiwork!

It is not a reflection on you if something is wrong!

It is a reflection on your friends that they care enough to try to keep
you around to enjoy your company!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And pack those parachutes !!

On 4/15/2007 12:09:12 PM, "Peter R." wrote:

Yesterday (Saturday) the president of our local EAA chapter here in
Central NY (USA) and a passenger were killed during the first takeoff of
their just-completed Lancair Legacy aircraft. Sadly they had invited
family and friends to witness this first flight.

An update: Tonight after returning to my home field I spoke briefly with a
source who witnessed this accident. The source stated that the engine of the
airplane was not running right as the aircraft taxied by the small crowd that
was invited to watch the flight. There was no at-length run-up performed
before takeoff.

Additionally, preliminary investigation discovered metal, corkscrew-shaped
shavings throughout the fuel system. The engine was brand new/ According to
this witness, it appeared that after engine failure during takeoff, the pilot
did attempt a turn-back to the airport but stalled and spun the aircraft in.

Preliminary accident report is he

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...24X00449&key=1


--
Peter