Problems for Aluminum Overcast

[Elroy13]

Gear problems again..Ellington Field, problems solved.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/10155072/detail.html

[warbirdguy]

Thankfully she's OK! I can't believe she had problems with her gear again!

Last edited by warbirdguy on Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Former Member]

What was the exact cause of the first gear failure?

John

[Dan K]

Pilot error. Gear pulled while taxiing.

Folks at the Weeks Hangar told me that the gear switch has been moved, and the erring PIC has been banished from the plane!

[K5DH]

Yikes! I just flew aboard her this past Sunday! I'm happy to hear that she got down safely and all is well again.

Cheers!

[Bill Greenwood]

Re, the report that first gear collaspe was due to the raising the gear while taxiing. How would this be likely, was he raising the flaps after landing and inadvertanly hit the gear? Does the system have some type of lock out so that the gear would not retract if weight was on the wheels, or is there any type of lockout on the handle or switch in the cockpit? I saw the plane when it was in Denver for a very sucessful multi day visit. It's really nice, glad it and everyone is safe.

[Lynn Allen]

I read somewhere that they moved the gear switch to the other side after that.

Lynn

[B25PBYGUY]

Bill, while I cant speak for every 17's possibly altered system (Liberty Belle pilot), there are 3 squat switches - one per wheel. Its quite possible that the Overcast gear was not fully down and over center. There are several reasons that could cause this to include both mechanical or pilot error. A visual check can confirm over center is achieved by alignment of the drag struts.
Recalling the footage, and if the gear was not over center, the tailwheel was shimmying(is that a word?). The shimmy may be induced by an over inflated tailwheel, or tailwheel strut (over 2 5/8"), forward stick pressure after touchdown, or unlocking the tailwheel at too high a speed - say 30mph, - or a bad recapped tailwheel tire.
This in concert with the high speed angular departure from the the runway, may have been contributory factors. Otherwise, they may have gotten away with it.
It serves to illustrate that many factors usually contribute to an event, human factors in the cockpit, environmental stress at one of the country's busiest airports etc. It underscores the concept of risk management in the cockpit. Doubly so, when operating antiquated airplanes.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Bill, while I cant speak for every 17's possibly altered system (Liberty Belle pilot), there are 3 squat switches - one per wheel. Its quite possible that the Overcast gear was not fully down and over center. There are several reasons that could cause this to include both mechanical or pilot error. A visual check can confirm over center is achieved by alignment of the drag struts.
Recalling the footage, and if the gear was not over center, the tailwheel was shimmying(is that a word?). The shimmy may be induced by an over inflated tailwheel, or tailwheel strut (over 2 5/8"), forward stick pressure after touchdown, or unlocking the tailwheel at too high a speed - say 30mph, - or a bad recapped tailwheel tire.
This in concert with the high speed angular departure from the the runway, may have been contributory factors. Otherwise, they may have gotten away with it.
It serves to illustrate that many factors usually contribute to an event, human factors in the cockpit, environmental stress at one of the country's busiest airports etc. It underscores the concept of risk management in the cockpit. Doubly so, when operating antiquated airplanes.

Great explanation thanks.

[Gary Norville]

Ya gotta LOVE that B25PBYGUY !!

HI BOB

[B25PBYGUY]

Hi Gary!
I'll be the one in the Belle at Cecil Field the weekend of Nov. 11/12 if you wish to drive on up. Good to hear from you. I hope all is well.
Bob