Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 11:55:42 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from starling.mail.pas.earthlink.net ([207.217.120.227] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2b4) with ESMTP id 120755 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 02 Jun 2004 11:45:48 -0400 Received: from sdn-ap-001castocp0256.dialsprint.net ([63.187.1.2] helo=Skip) by starling.mail.pas.earthlink.net with asmtp (Exim 3.36 #4) id 1BVXvZ-00037a-00 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 02 Jun 2004 08:45:17 -0700 X-Original-Message-ID: <003901c448b8$a07793b0$0201bb3f@Skip> Reply-To: "Skip Slater" From: "Skip Slater" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: Subject: Re: [LML] IV's and IV-P's -- unsafe at any speed? X-Original-Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 08:44:29 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002E_01C4487D.D16C15D0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 X-ELNK-Trace: cbee950bdf563876c8ad50643b1069f8239a348a220c2609986e9606a83832f2eff8fc83f2de6d732601a10902912494350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002E_01C4487D.D16C15D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Jim, Ron Galbraith and I were discusing this exact topic just yesterday. = These planes are now virtually uninsurable and are often being flown by = pilots that don't fully understand the demands of such a high perfomance = airplane. The IV's have shown a proclivity to spin (and not recover) = that's significant and certainly worthy of Lancair's full attention. Whether all of these IV accidents have been due to pilot error, = structural failure, engine problems or something else, I think the time = has come for Lancair to end their deafening silence on the issue and try = to get a full understanding of what's behind all the accidents and see = if there's a common thread that can be addressed. It may be little more = than a required training program or a re-examination of the airplane's = approved flight envelope or CG range. One big problem I've seen is builders abitrarily significantly = raising gross weights for their planes above the factory recommendation. = Who knows what arbitrary CG excursions are being made. I've heard no = warnings from Lancair on this practice and I think it's time that the = issue was addressed by the kit's manufacturer to stress the limits to = which the airframe was tested. If built and flown properly within design limits, I believe the IV's = can be safe planes to fly. Skip Slater=20 N540ES ------=_NextPart_000_002E_01C4487D.D16C15D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Jim,

Ron Galbraith and I were = discusing=20 this exact topic just yesterday. These planes are now=20 virtually uninsurable and are often being flown by pilots that = don't fully=20 understand the demands of such a high perfomance airplane. The = IV's have=20 shown a proclivity to spin (and not = recover) that's significant and=20 certainly worthy of Lancair's full attention.

Whether all of these IV = accidents have=20 been due to pilot error, structural failure, engine problems or = something else,=20 I think the time has come for Lancair to end their deafening silence on = the=20 issue and try to get a full understanding of what's behind all the = accidents and=20 see if there's a common thread that can be addressed. It may be = little=20 more than a required training program or a re-examination of the = airplane's=20 approved flight envelope or CG range.

One big problem I've seen = is builders=20 abitrarily significantly raising gross weights for their planes = above the=20 factory recommendation. Who knows what arbitrary CG excursions are being = made. I've heard no warnings from Lancair on this practice = and I=20 think it's time that the issue was addressed by the kit's = manufacturer to=20 stress the limits to which the airframe was tested.

If built and flown=20 properly within design limits, I believe the IV's can = be safe planes to fly.

Skip = Slater

= N540ES

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