Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 23:41:12 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-r05.mx.aol.com ([152.163.225.101] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.3) with ESMTP id 2586391 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 19 Sep 2003 22:42:33 -0400 Received: from RicArgente@cs.com by imo-r05.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v36_r1.1.) id q.17b.1fc72fb3 (4328) for ; Fri, 19 Sep 2003 22:42:28 -0400 (EDT) From: RicArgente@cs.com X-Original-Message-ID: <17b.1fc72fb3.2c9d1894@cs.com> X-Original-Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 22:42:28 EDT Subject: Lancair 360 Incident X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="part1_17b.1fc72fb3.2c9d1894_boundary" X-Mailer: 7.0 for Windows sub 8000 --part1_17b.1fc72fb3.2c9d1894_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit My Lancair 360 incident pales in comparison to Ron's mishap but I feel compelled to relate this incident to remind ourselves about the perils of being complacent. Before switching the master switch ON, we all know to make sure that the gear switch is in the DOWN position, right? More so if the builder did not install a safety squat switch, right? You all know where this is going... I merrily walk in my hanger one beautiful Sunday morning and I wanted to check the fuel level, so I turn the master switch ON. BIZZZZZZZ, CLANG, BANGGGG!!! Yup, the nose gear folded and the nose slams into the ground. Luckily, I had some sense left to immediately switch the master switch off, preventing the rest of the gears from folding and collapsing the entire plane... My assessment is that I inadvertently hit the gear switch to the up position when I was exiting the plane from a previous flight a day before. Damage: a) Prop bent (one side only). Cost: $6,000 (for two used blades, overhauled, zero timed) b) Lower cowling cracked at several places Cost: $2,000 (body work/paint) c) Air intake box damaged. Cost: $20 (couple of bids) It could have been worse. Had the main gears collapsed: bent wing, spar, damaged pitot tube, etc, etc.... Rick Argente PS Safety squat switch ordered!!!!!! --part1_17b.1fc72fb3.2c9d1894_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable My Lancair 360 incident pales in comparison to Ron's m= ishap but I feel compelled to relate this incident to remind ourselves about= the perils of being complacent.

Before switching the master switch ON, we all know to make sure that the gea= r switch is in the DOWN position, right?  More so if the builder did no= t install a safety squat switch, right?

You all know where this is going... I merrily walk in my hanger one beautifu= l Sunday morning and I wanted to check the fuel level, so I turn the master=20= switch ON.  BIZZZZZZZ, CLANG, BANGGGG!!!  Yup, the nose gear folde= d and the nose slams into the ground.  Luckily, I had some sense left t= o immediately switch the master switch off, preventing the rest of the gears= from folding and collapsing the entire plane...

My assessment is that I inadvertently hit the gear switch to the up position= when I was exiting the plane from a previous flight a day before. 
Damage:
a) Prop bent (one side only).  Cost: $6,000 (for two used blades, over= hauled, zero timed)
b) Lower cowling cracked at several places Cost: $2,000 (body work/paint) c) Air intake box damaged.  Cost: $20 (couple of bids)

It could have been worse.  Had the main gears collapsed: bent wing, spa= r, damaged pitot tube, etc, etc....

Rick Argente

PS  Safety squat switch ordered!!!!!!









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