At 08:54 AM 3/4/99 -0800, you wrote: > A former owner says that the coupe can do barrel rolls without >placing undue stress on the plane - what is the feeling out >there on the wisdom of doing this - > He also says he has done loops.
Don't just listen to THAT former owner. Here are some testimonials from other Ercoupe owners who thought aerobatics in an Ercoupe would be swell: DURING A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER. NO ONE OBSERVED THE ACTUAL MANEUVER; HOWEVER, ONE WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH, AND HE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE WAS FALLING "LIKE A ROCK." THE OUTBOARD 3-FOOT-LONG PORTION OF THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. PRIOR TO THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF, HE HAD INFORMED AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT HE PLANNED TO "DO SOME ROLLS." A WEEK EARLIER, THE PILOT TOLD HIS WIFE THAT HE WANTED TO TRY TO ROLL HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED AEROBATIC FLIGHT TRAINING, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED TO PERFORM ROLLS. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT AILERON AND LEFT WING STRUCTURE REVEALED PERMANENT DEFORMATION IN AN UPWARD (POSITIVE) DIRECTION. FAA AIRWORTHINESS AND CERTIFICATION OFFICE PERSONNEL REPORTED NO SIGNS OF A DEVELOPING OR PREEXISTING CONDITION WHICH INDUCED FAILURE OF THE SEPARATED LEFT WING TIP. Probable Cause the pilot's intentional performance of an aerobatic maneuver which overloaded the outboard portion of the left wing and caused it to fail. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's overconfidence in his ability to perform the maneuver and his lack of experience or training in aerobatics. THE PLT WAS PRACTICING FLY-BYS FOR THE NEXT DAYS AIRSHOW. THE LEFT WING SUSTAINED AN INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A PROGRESSIVE CRACK IN THE #7 RIB EMANATING FROM PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING TIP. THIS RESULTED THE INFLIGHT STRUCTURAL OVERLOAD OF THE MAIN SPAR. A STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF IN HIS PERSONAL AIRPLANE ON HIS SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY TO PRACTICE FOR A PRIVATE PILOT CHECKRIDE. HE HAD ABOUT 120 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, 80 IN MODEL. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE ACCELERATE. ONE HEARD A SOUND LIKE AND EXPLOSION. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP SPIRAL TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS THROWN FROM THE AIRPLANE. AIRPLANE DEBRIS FELL AT DISTANCES UP TO 3000 FEET AWAY. THE EMPENNAGE AND RIGHT WING SHOWED FAILURE UNDER POSITIVE LOAD. Probable Cause THE PILOT'S EXCEEDING THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Dold ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://home.pacbell.net/sdold/ Say NO to useless over-quoting ----------------------------------------------------------------
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