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Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 30th 06, 05:11 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop

Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished it
this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The flight
went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of prop
missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another 6-8".
His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on the
runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of the low
passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got pictures
heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot was as
surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and evidently what was
left of the prop continued to produce thrust.
This is a Starduster Too, with a continental 200hp radial, and a
Sensenich wooden prop(72" I think). While I don't think the prop was new, it
was in perfect shape, and the aircraft/engine/prop were inspected by a
number of very qualified folks, and no one saw anything amiss, until after
the flight. The aircraft was thoroughly checked for ground clearance
before flight, and from the test I think the attitude required to strike the
prop(even with compressed gear), would scare any still living pilot.
Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Al




  #2  
Old May 30th 06, 06:15 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop

Al wrote:
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished it
this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The flight
went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of prop
missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another 6-8".
His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on the
runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of the low
passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got pictures
heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot was as
surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and evidently what was
left of the prop continued to produce thrust.


I can only suppose this to be torsional vibration?
At some RPM, the propeller is twisted so hard in such a way to make the
ends of the prop wiggle off.
This sounds modereately unlikely - I would expect much more of the blade
to break off.
  #3  
Old May 30th 06, 06:44 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop


"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Al wrote:
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished
it
this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The flight
went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of prop
missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another 6-8".
His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on the
runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of the
low
passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got pictures
heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot was
as
surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and evidently what
was
left of the prop continued to produce thrust.


I can only suppose this to be torsional vibration?
At some RPM, the propeller is twisted so hard in such a way to make the
ends of the prop wiggle off.
This sounds modereately unlikely - I would expect much more of the blade
to break off.


It had metal tips, if that helps. Don't most radial engines run wood
props? Maybe we had the wrong prop for the engine? I'll see if I can get
model numbers. I have one picture of the aircraft showing the
prop,('before') and will post it at alt.binaries.pictures.aviation, followed
by the 'after" pictures(probably tomorrow)

Al


  #4  
Old May 31st 06, 12:33 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop


Ian Stirling wrote:
Al wrote:
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished it
this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The flight
went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of prop
missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another 6-8".
His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on the
runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of the low
passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got pictures
heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot was as
surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and evidently what was
left of the prop continued to produce thrust.


I can only suppose this to be torsional vibration?
At some RPM, the propeller is twisted so hard in such a way to make the
ends of the prop wiggle off.
This sounds modereately unlikely - I would expect much more of the blade
to break off.



While that is certainly a possibility, there is something else that can
be checked
quickly and easily...

Question to OP...

In three point attitude, how much prop clearance IS/WAS there?
and
How deep was the grass?

Folk, you would not believe what grass can do to a wood prop unless
you see it for yourself.

Just a thought.

Richard

Now, if this already stated to be a paved runway, well, I'm on via
Google Groups
at the moment. Haven't figured out how the threads work yet.
Rx

  #5  
Old May 31st 06, 12:47 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop

Pavement, KRBG, and about 10" I think.

Al


"cavelamb" wrote in message
oups.com...

Ian Stirling wrote:
Al wrote:
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He
finished it
this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The
flight
went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of
prop
missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another
6-8".
His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on the
runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of
the low
passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got pictures
heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot
was as
surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and evidently
what was
left of the prop continued to produce thrust.


I can only suppose this to be torsional vibration?
At some RPM, the propeller is twisted so hard in such a way to make the
ends of the prop wiggle off.
This sounds modereately unlikely - I would expect much more of the blade
to break off.



While that is certainly a possibility, there is something else that can
be checked
quickly and easily...

Question to OP...

In three point attitude, how much prop clearance IS/WAS there?
and
How deep was the grass?

Folk, you would not believe what grass can do to a wood prop unless
you see it for yourself.

Just a thought.

Richard

Now, if this already stated to be a paved runway, well, I'm on via
Google Groups
at the moment. Haven't figured out how the threads work yet.
Rx



  #6  
Old May 31st 06, 10:02 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop

Al wrote:

Pavement, KRBG, and about 10" I think.

Al


Ok, another WAG?

Stardusters sometimes have rather long looking noses.

If that was 10" in level attitude - obviously not a prob.
If that's 10" clearance in 3 point? Maybe?


LAST WAG?

You found an old prop on the resturant wall?

  #7  
Old May 31st 06, 10:34 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop


"cavelamb" wrote in message
nk.net...
Al wrote:

Pavement, KRBG, and about 10" I think.

Al


Ok, another WAG?

Stardusters sometimes have rather long looking noses.

If that was 10" in level attitude - obviously not a prob.
If that's 10" clearance in 3 point? Maybe?


It was a good 10" in a level attitude. Far enough to strike the prop would
be scary indeed.



LAST WAG?

You found an old prop on the resturant wall?


He, He, It WILL end up on a wall somewhere. Perhaps with a clock. The
strange part to me is that he didn't notice a thing until shutdown.

I finally got some pictures up, (alt.binaries.pictures.aviation). I tried
earlier, but hit some kind of size limitation.

Al



  #8  
Old May 31st 06, 12:56 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop


"Al" wrote in message ...
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished it this last winter, and has been preparing
for his first flight, The flight went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of prop missing from
each end, and what was left was shattered back another 6-8". His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were
found on the runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground strike. The videos show a
perfectly normal flight although in one of the low passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got
pictures heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The pilot was as surprized as the rest of us by
the lack of vibration, and evidently what was left of the prop continued to produce thrust.
This is a Starduster Too, with a continental 200hp radial, and a Sensenich wooden prop(72" I think). While I don't
think the prop was new, it was in perfect shape, and the aircraft/engine/prop were inspected by a number of very
qualified folks, and no one saw anything amiss, until after the flight. The aircraft was thoroughly checked for
ground clearance before flight, and from the test I think the attitude required to strike the prop(even with
compressed gear), would scare any still living pilot.
Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Al


Nope, sounds very lucky!


  #9  
Old May 31st 06, 01:01 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop

Any BLOOD? Might have hit a bird!

"Al" wrote in message
...
Well, a friend finally got his starduster too in the air. He finished
it this last winter, and has been preparing for his first flight, The
flight went well, apparently normal until shutdown. There was about 6 " of
prop missing from each end, and what was left was shattered back another
6-8". His landing was in full stall attitude and no pieces were found on
the runway, no one heard anything, so we've pretty much ruled out a ground
strike. The videos show a perfectly normal flight although in one of the
low passes, one of the observers heard a whistling sound. I've got
pictures heading this way, and should have them posted by tomorrow. The
pilot was as surprized as the rest of us by the lack of vibration, and
evidently what was left of the prop continued to produce thrust.
This is a Starduster Too, with a continental 200hp radial, and a
Sensenich wooden prop(72" I think). While I don't think the prop was new,
it was in perfect shape, and the aircraft/engine/prop were inspected by a
number of very qualified folks, and no one saw anything amiss, until after
the flight. The aircraft was thoroughly checked for ground clearance
before flight, and from the test I think the attitude required to strike
the prop(even with compressed gear), would scare any still living pilot.
Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Al






  #10  
Old May 31st 06, 03:55 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Posts: n/a
Default Starduster Too, first flight, busted prop


"Cy Galley" wrote in message
news:1Affg.756435$084.24840@attbi_s22...
Any BLOOD? Might have hit a bird!


I didn't see any blood, (see new photos alt.binaries.pictures.aviation) and
it seems unlikely you'd trash both ends with one bird.

Al



 




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