X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from [69.171.58.236] (account marv@lancaironline.net) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro WEBUSER 5.1c.2) with HTTP id 1334635 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:49:15 -0400 From: "Marvin Kaye" Subject: Re: [LML] Note to self! To: lml X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro WebUser v5.1c.2 Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:49:15 -0400 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: References: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1";format="flowed" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Posted for "Lancair" : I would call them incredibly dumb except that . . . My GlaStar was in the shop to repaint the rudder. The paint shop was on a small paved strip in the southeast Ohio hills and has a significant grade. After checking out the aircraft and performing a preflight I taxied to take off down hill. Strange feeling though - a strong crosswind had sprung up and it was difficult to track straight. When the air rudder could not hold it I tapped the brake and continued to move along. I ran CIGAR and started rolling downhill. The faster I went the greater was the crosswind. Brakes brought it back center, then off brake and it started to slew off the runway. I was up to rotation speed and it was really squirrelly. Sufficient rudder application was impossible and I started to track left off the runway. Brake brought it back again but excessive use made the brakes start to fade. Finally it was either yank it off or plant both feet. I trounced on the brakes, slid off the runway right side, across the grass, and came to rest perfectly aligned on the parallel taxiway with smoke pouring from the wheels. Upon climbing out I saw that I had burned the brakes, but what caused the control problem? Reaching in I pushed the rudder pedals and watched the rudder move, and then I finally saw it - they moved in the opposite direction! I pulled the tail cone and found that the painter/mechanic had cross connected the cables. The controls felt right and I saw them move, so all was well - right? Obviously not. And who was to blame for this near death experience? The PIC naturally. So perhaps incredibly dumb is appropriate. Robert M. Simon ES-P N301ES