Jeff, 

I would like to go to Airventure, but this is a very busy time at work, so I can't take vacation during July or August.  I have only been to OSH once, and that was pre-LOBO.  

I work in occupational safety, and is probably why I keep asking these questions.  I'm looking for a common root cause, but I'm not hearing it.  I have a hard time convincing myself that all of these Lancair pilots sitting in the left seat with an engine running at full power keep making life-ending decisions.  If there is fuel in the tanks, the engine should keep running unless the pilot shuts off the mags, shuts off the fuel, or the engine blows up.  I doubt that Cessna pilots have this track record?  That indicates to me that there may be something more to this than simple pilot error.  

I am aware of one rotary engine fatal crash where the engine quit on takeoff.  The pilot tried to make the "impossible turn" and crashed.  The cause was determined to be a faulty fuel system design.  I can't help but wonder if there may be a gremlin lurking somewhere in our fuel system.  

Mark

On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 7:40 AM, <vtailjeff@aol.com> wrote:

Mark,

 

Yes, LOBO tracks these matters. Have you ever been to Oshkosh Airventure? These accidents are discussed in detail there. Based on your comments about the engines you would be surprised. In many cases it was not the engine.

 

Jeff Edwards

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Steitle <msteitle@gmail.com>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Sent: Thu, Jul 7, 2011 4:59 pm
Subject: [LML] Re: another Lancair

Steve, 

I agree, the pilot community lost another great guy.  Even if he was a jerk, we still need to solve this riddle.  Is LOBO following up on each of these crashes to learn what the experts determine to be the cause(s)?  If not, we'll continue to be having these conversations until we eventually run out of pilots, or airplanes.

Mark 

On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 1:05 PM, Steve Colwell <mcmess1919@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

I would sure would like to know why all of these "certified engines" are quitting on takeoff.  

 

Mark S. 

Maybe the engine driven fuel pump is failing.  We are running low boost continuously in case the engine pump fails and to address fuel pressure issues at altitude, hot fuel, vapor lock and other problems.  

I understand the engine will not make full power on low boost (reduce manifold pressure and settle for less power?)   

Or, it might quit if high boost is on and the mixture is not adjusted.   

Since engine driven pump failure, heat and altitude all affect fuel delivery, it would seem using the low boost continuously could solve or make these problems manageable.  

Dr. Lyle Koen did our last two physicals.  He was a very likeable guy who built one of the early IV’s and had over 1000 hours on it.  We talked to him about joining LOBO and coming to the Branson Fly-In. 

Given the more knowledgeable than usual witness account, could training have changed this outcome?

Steve  Legacy IO550