From: Brad Ankerstar
To: KRnet
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:12 PM
Subject: First Flight - N774A
Today was not supposed to be the day, but it was. N774A inadvertently left
the ground at Butler County Regional (HAO), Ohio. Wind was 5-7 knots right
down runway 11. After a brief attempt to put it back down, it became
apparent that was not a good idea. I made one wobbly pass around the
pattern and set up an approach, but I thought I was too fast, so I just
continued my low pass and returned to pattern altitude. I was going to take
another shot at it but my KR pilot on the ground suggested I get some
altitude, above the airport and feel it out a little. So I went up to
2500-3000 and orbited the runway for about 40 minutes.
I didn?t really have that Yeeaaahhhaaaa moment but I could see the
potential. Upon reflection, it was pretty exciting. I was way out of my
comfort zone on this unplanned adventure so I didn?t really enjoy it as much
as I should, after 35 years of working and dreaming. The guys on the ground
said it looked like it flew great and sounded awesome. I was glad to hear
that, but after the landing, it may be irrelevant. The landing was
marginally successful. I was able to climb out and walk away. N774A will
need new shoes, among other things. The standard retracts will probably be
replaced with training wheels, provided a close inspection doesn?t find some
serious damage that is not visible now.
Once I get it off the trailer and on a couple saw horses I can find out how
bad it is. We had it off the runway and back in the hangar in less than 30
minutes. EAA guys are great! Then I got to spend a couple hours with some
nice State Troopers and folks from the FAA. The young man working at the
airport is the son of the FAA safety inspector who checked out the ?hard
landing/crash?.
Assuming I don?t find additional serious damage, I will probably be in the
market for a set of Diehl tricycle gear or maybe a project with that gear
set up.
Brad Ankerstar, SW Ohio
N774A, KR2R
