Audean wrote: > > You will more than likely flame me but here goes. > > I have seen this come up before on shoulder harnesses for coupes... > > I only want to point out had N99893 had shoulder harnesses in her my husband > would be dead... > > He was able to get his head down when she fliped and the canapy was pretty flat > when righted. > > I have pictures of that plane upside down and righted... any one care to see a > couple of them e-mail me. > > Audean Woollard > N6596Q
Hi Audean,
No, I'm not going to flame you. In fact, I have a short story to
tell
that will confirm that "freak accidents" sometimes are good and some
times are bad.
While in the USAF, a friend of mine needed to go into town but
found
his car had a dead battery. He asked his room mate if he could borrow
his car for the short quick trip into town. The room mate agreed and
handed him the keys.
My friend and another guy left for town. (it was after dark)
Being in
an unfamiliar car, he misjudged his speed going around a curve and went
off the road into a lake. The passenger was not wearing his seatbelt
and was thrown clear and easily swam to shore, unharmed. The driver had
his seatbelt fastened and was found later, still in the car (a
convertable) with both hands grasping the seat belts. He had drowned
while trying to "pull" the seatbelt latch apart because he didn't know
how to release it.
Cause of death, obviously drowning. Oh? was he not killed by the
seatbelt? Do I believe in and use my seatbelts? Absolutely!!!!
Do I have shoulder harnesses in my coupe? No, but I think it
might be
a good idea.
I hate the term "statistices prove that.....", figures don't lie,
but
liars figure. You can take nearly any statistic and prove the point on
either side of nearly any arguement by using the same figures. For
example, did you know that of all the people who were killed in aircraft
crashes during the year 1998 (both commercial and private flights)
approximately 95% of them had eaten carrots in the past 10 days? A very
stupid statement, obviously, but did the carrots kill or even contribute
to their deaths? Of course not, but those are the statistics.
I'm an avid motorcycle enthusiast, I've riding since 1936 (and
still
ride) and have never had an accident on one, (yet). My younger brother
was killed on his motorcycle when a car made a left turn and hit him. He
never regained consciousness. Did he have a helmet on and a leather
jacket for protection? Absolutely, but he didn't die of head injuries,
his chest was crushed by the car and his ribs punctured one lung and he
drowned in his own blood. Do I still ride and always wear my protective
gear? Yes.
These two "freak" accidents turned out to be fatal. I'm very glad
that
your husbands was the opposite and he is still with you. But, how many
people have been saved by the fact that the shoulder harness has kept
them from having their head hit the wheel or instrument panel and dying
from a head injury? All we can really do is play the odds and hope that
when, and if, we get in that situation that we have planned correctly
for this particular set of circumstances. After all, no two accidents
are exactly the same, so how can we plan for the exact one that might,
someday come our way? How many people have gone through wars and come
home afterwards to get hit by a car or have a sickness and die.
Lots of people have been killed because their parachute failed to
open,
but I'll be darned if I'd jump without one (or even with one). :-)
Just out of curiosity, ask your husband to think for a minute
before he
answers, then be totally honest with himself and you, does he really
believe that he is safer, in case of a crash, by not having the shoulder
harnesses in his plane?
Hey, I've rambled on and on. I only intended on relating the tale
of
the car in the lake to you. I hope I haven't offended you or your
husband with all my 'gory' stories. If I ever figure out that this next
flight is the one that will be my waterloo I think I'll stay home that
day. (Got a crystal ball that I can borrow?)
I heard on the radio about a week or so ago that someone is trying
to
get a law passed that all skiers must wear helmets because a couple of
guys have been killed by running into trees. Maybe I should wear my
helmet to bed in case I fall out of bed during the night. Reckon?
Fly often and safe, with or without the harnesses.
Bob Saville
N3396H 415C
Eugene, OR
PS...I think I'll cc this to the list, I'll probably get some nasty
replies, but just 'maybe' it will make one person think about safety and
save a life or at least an injury whether it be a/c, m/c or ??????
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