First Noseover Mars Effort; Nobody Hurt
ANN News-Spy Darren wanted us to follow up on
this one.
Though it could have been a lot worse, the first flight of the
first of the 13 Nieuport 7/8 replica fighters being built by EAA
Chapter 292 of Independence, Oregon ("'Noon Patrol' Deploys at
Arlington," 07-11-01, ANN) didn't go exactly as planned.
Taxi and fast taxi tests were fine; the takeoff was clean, and
the flight envelope, though not "thoroughly explored," got opened a
bit.
Then, about 25 minutes into the flight, the engine started going
sour. Test pilot Jerry Stevens was too far from the airstrip to
glide in (the little bipe's glide ratio being in the same class as
the X-15's), and he landed short, "in the rough," so to
speak.
The gear was designed to take just so much; and it wasn't enough:
the lovely little replica tipped over, as Jerry said, "in slow
motion." In a moment, it was on its nose, then its back.
Fortunately (aside from the embarrassment factor), there
were over a hundred people watching, and they had Jerry out,
uninjured, in half a minute. There was no fire, and the airplane
was back upright, on its broken "legs," in less than half a minute
more.
The airplane was substantially damaged, but will
likely be rebuilt; the other 12 Nieuports under construction
(nearing completion) in the squadron shouldn't be
affected.
Jerry said the machine flew well.
The engine, Chapter-built and based on the VW 1835cc design that's
been a favorite for decades, hasn't yielded all its secrets yet.
Last year, in ANN's exclusive interview just before Arlington,
where the group put on several forums, we were told, "We wanted an
inexpensive, reliable powerplant, so we went to the Great Planes
designs." Just how closely to the Great Plains design the group
remained, or whether the engine itself (rather than any cooling,
fuel, etc.) problems may have contributed, is still unknown.
Whether one or more of the other machines, also near completion,
will fly at Arlington next month, is anybody's guess; but, with the
determination this group has shown, we wouldn't bet against it.
** Report created 06/13/2002 Record
2
**
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#:
132DL Make/Model:
EXP Description: NIEUPORT 11
Date: 06/09/2002 Time: 1750
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: INDEPENDENCE State: OR
Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF RWY AND FLIPPED OVER, INDEPENDENCE,
OR
INJURY DATA Total Fatal:
0
# Crew: 1 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR KSLE 091722Z VRB05KT 10SM SCT022 BKN029 14/09 A3018
KSLE 091753Z
15007KT 10SM
BKN029 14/08 A3018
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase:
Landing Operation: General
Aviation
Departed:
UNKN
Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination:
UNKN
Flt Plan: UNK
Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
Last Clearance: UNKN
FAA FSDO: PORTLAND, OR
(NM09)
Entry date: 06/10/2002
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