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Did
you inquire if he was using a Technical Advisor or other resource? Aand
then go around, by way of the back door, to gain entry that way?
I'm
not saying you didn't do due diligence in this instance, but if we have a
high degree of certainty that a person's life might be on the line; or even
worse, an unsuspecting buyer may later purchase this accident-waiting-to-happen,
then 3 attempts to warn someone of a foreseeable, very serious problem does not
sound like overkill (pun intended).
I've
been stupid, and sometimes I've been stupid 3 times in a row, but I would hope
that anyone that saw I was making such a serious mistake, would not
simply walk away, satisified that they'd 'done their duty'.
Chuck Jensen
As I grow older, I realize that I can say what needs to be said without
insulting people. And yes, I can be more blunt with my friends.
However, a couple of years ago I was being shown a Legendary Mustang kit at
the local airport, which is surprisingly similar in construction technique to
our Lancairs. Some construction aspects were done very well and some
were not. The bad ones that I remember all involved the wing fuel
tanks. The fuel tank sealer was poorly applied without good coverage --
there was exposed fiberglass in many places. But worse were the holes in
the ribs that were not closed out with micro. THERE WOULD BE HONEYCOMB
DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO FUEL. I told the builder that he needed to close out
the holes so as not to allow fuel to contact the honeycomb and gradually soak
thru the entire wing skin. His response was appalling -- he had taken
the hole that he cut out and stuck it in a jar of avgas to see if it would
break down over time. It looked okay after six months, so he was
unconcerned.
I told him three times that he needed to close out the
holes that were to be exposed to fuel. I was polite about it.
I told him how I o make sure to get good coverage with the fuel tank
sealer. Did he listen? No. However, I stopped short of
calling him a f**king idiot with a death wish because it would not have made a
bit of difference. If he ever finishes his plane, he WILL be an accident
statistic. Guaranteed.
What would you have me do? Talk to
the brick wall a little longer? Call the "homebuilt airplane
police"? I said what needed to be said, three times, and was rebuffed
every time. No, I walked away and told myself that Darwin still works,
but in this case it will take a little longer.
- Rob Wolf
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