From: SWrightFLY@aol.com
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 09:29:04 EST
Subject: Re: COZY: Velocity accident...
In a message dated 1/1/00 1:44:54 AM Central Standard Time,
ZeroGCorp1@aol.com writes:
<< I may have missed it, but was there any information on a recent fatal
velocity accident on the list? >>
Hi folks.......Sorry to report that Ken Swertferger of Decatur Alabama was
making a go round at the Murfreesboro airport near Smyrna TN. and crashed on
downwind to the active.and one tank full of gas the other tank was broken
up...Ken was alone....the fuel selector was on.
Steve Wright
Stagger EZ N700EZ
AirBike...Ultralight
EAA Technical Advisor
Wright Aircraft Works LLC Wright
Aircraft Works LLC: Electric Nose-Lift for EZEs
Sponsor- Canard Aviators canard Aviators page
From: ZeroGCorp1@aol.com
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 11:18:51 EST
Subject: Re: COZY: Velocity accident...
In a message dated 1/1/00 8:46:59 AM Central Standard Time,
nogofsu@sprintmail.com writes:
> His plane appeared well built, and he left me with the
> impression that he was a thorough builder and conservative pilot. I am
> left with many unanswered questions.
I am certainly sad to hear about someone losing thier life. My condolences
are out to Ken's family. I do want to say something here that is not in
anyway meant to be dishonorable to Ken, but as a word of wisdom to all new
pilots like myself. I'm sure the accident report will shed much more light
on the whole incident, but I think everyone should really evaluate thier
skills as a pilot when transitioning to a higher performance plane such as
the one we are building from lower performance trainers like the Cessnas.
I shared my flight instructor with Ken for the last year. We often flew back
to back in a 172 out of Redstone. My instructor was very concerned about
Ken's progress and most of all his anxiousness to finish his ticket because
he had finished his plane and was ready to fly it. In the end, he left the
Redstone club to go to Decatur, because our instructor was not ready to sign
him off. That day, my instructor was very low and said he did not think the
absolutely beautiful plane Ken ahd built would be in the air for a year.
Ken was an extremely nice man, an absolute craftsman, and I sure on his way
to becoming a good pilot. I think everyone should really look at thier skills
and not be fooled by the familarity we all have with an aircraft we spend so
much energy and time with during construction.
I hope that all will not take my post as offensive, but this is something
that really hits close to home for me. Don't take piloting lightly.
Ray Cronise
Cozy #770
Date: Sat, 01 Jan 2000 14:04:40 -0500
From: Wayne Lanza
Subject: Re: COZY: Velocity accident...
Hi Ray,
Ken Swertferger was lost earlier this week in his Velocity. The
preliminary
reports refer to his engine "just quitting" on go around. As I understand
it,
his engine was originally in another experimental (Velocity?). It had
quit
unexplained on two occasions on it's former owner, Ken was made aware of
this fact. I believe that he had the engine checked out prior to use but
...
The good people at Velocity are pretty upset about loosing Ken, he was
well
liked and will be sorely missed. No "told-you-so's" but obvious problems
can & will lead to obvious results. This goes for certified engines as
well as
alternate power sources. There are times when it pays to just stop &
think...
Best Wishes to All for '2000!!
Wayne Lanza
____________________________________________________________
ZeroGCorp1@aol.com wrote:
> I may have missed it, but was there any information on a recent fatal
> velocity accident on the list?
>
> Ray Cronise
> #770
From: cdenk@ix.netcom.com
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 16:08:34 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: COZY: Velocity accident...
Was said
30 years ago, Had a Navion that got rough on takeoff once every month or so (was flown several times a week). We did
everything we knew to do including wiring harness, plugs, overhaul mags and carb, etc. Never was able to get it back on the
ground running rough. Partner bellyied in when engine quit on takeoff, totaled, minor injuries. Sold engine with problems
well documented to someone in Seattle who was putting together one Navion from several wrecks. On 2nd takeoff it quite, one
more plane scrapped. He sold to a homebuilder (30 years ago a continental E-185) who tore it down. found a loose valve seat.
Back then we thought we were hot stuff with one EGT. If we had all EGT/CHT's like have now, it would have been first roughness
pin pointed to a cylinder.
Moral - Don't fly it until all problems have been fixed with a logical solution.
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 08:39:19 -0500
From: David Domeier
Subject: COZY: on the concrete....wow!
Sun'nFun 2000 will be remembered....for more reasons than just being
there for 5 days.
It happened some 2:20 minutes northwest of Lakeland on the way
home. I was sitting there at 10,500, enjoying the ride and figuring I
should be home in less than 3 hours. The Cozy is a good cross country
machine doing an honest 165 knots TAS on 8 gallons per hour.
And then it started. First a modest but very noticeable vibration.
Something had failed in the engine....throttle was slowly pulled back to
idle and a descent initiated....."Columbus (Georgia) Approach, Cozy 10
charlie zulu, I've got an engine problem and am headed for that airport
off to the west"....no answer....the vibration suddenly became very
extreme, the airplane was shaking violently....it induced a flutter in
the canard which was flexing the tips at least 6 inches....wow! the
canard was a blurr... am I in trouble!....mixture to off....raise the
nose a bit to reduce airspeed.....speed came back to about 90
knots....the vibration stopped just as suddenly after about 10-15
seconds...."Columbus Approach, Cozy 10 charlie zulu, I think my prop
failed, I've shut down the engine" "Roger, are you declaring an
emergency?" "Affirmative. I'm headed to the airport at 12 o'clock."
"That's Auburn. How many souls and fuel on board?" " One person,
standby on the fuel....(push a button on the vision micro)...31
gallons." "Roger" "Could you get the unicom frequency for Auburn"
"Standby.....123.0" "Thanks. I'm switching over" "Auburn do you read
Cozy 10 charlie zulu?" "Roger." "I'm overhead with the engine shut down
and headed for 36" "Roger"....rolled out on a high down wind and did not
want to extend away from the airport but the base was obviously too
high...."What's your elevation?" "776 feet".....airpspeed check, 120
knots, damn, bring the nose up....get it back to 90....2600 feet
indicated...decide to do a 360 over the numbers...sink is something less
than 1000....Cozy is flying great but very quiet....roll out on down
wind a second time and things look much better....base leg....looking
good....final about 400 feet agl...extend the board....90 knots....on
the concrete....wow!
I rolled to the intersection of 22 turned on it and stopped. The
greeting party included one ambulance, one police car, and about 5
pickups with local guys. Everyone was looking at the prop. What a
shock! One blade was missing and the other 2 were badly damaged. Also
missing - the top exhaust stack on the right side.
A group of guys helped push the airplane to some grass where it is
now parked. Auburn is a beautiful airport. Looks like a golf course.
ATC wanted a call. The supervisor was filling out a form with basic
stuff and I asked it he needed a written report and he said no, but you
better check that engine mount....that was an under statement. Called
my wife...honey, won't be home tonight and I'll call you back as soon as
I figure out what to do next....pulled the cowlings....as I suspected,
the top pipe is #4. It has the heat muff welded to it and the pipe
failed where the aft end of the muff is welded. I had a aluminum shroud
around both pipes as per plan so the pipe slid aft and out into the
prop.
The engine was inspected quite thoroughly before this trip as I had
both cowlings off changing oil and filter. But what I did not do was
remove the aluminum shroud around the #2 and #4 pipes. The pipe
probably was cracked and I did not see it because of the shroud. (major
dumb-dumb, not removing the shroud)
I rented a car for 2 weeks and drove home yesterday. As soon as I
can round up some new pipes (they are on the way) and get FAA approval
to use a new Felix prop which just arrived a few days ago, I'll head
back to Alabama to retrieve the airplane. Meanwhile, is there a builder
in the Auburn area? The top cowling has a minor ding where the prop
kicked the pipe up and away and it could use a 2 ply lay up for
temporary repair. Also, does anyone have experience with this much
vibration....a brief inspection revealed no mount damage, but I'm
wondering about the engine itself. It was at idle when the major
shaking started and the mixture was pulled immediately.
Anyway, I'm pleased and thankful to be among the living. Check your
pipes guys....the more often, the better.
And one other thing. Congratulations Ron Wilson. I told you you
would win. Your airplane is a10 if ever there was one. (Ron Wilson is
one nice guy and a super builder)
dd
From: cdenk@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 17:17:45 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: COZY: on the concrete....wow!
I have sent a private message of likely help. BUT!!!
About a year ago, I replaced the same pipe on my Cosy. I had problems with the welds holding the heat muff on cracking, and
the muff deforming near the welds. After discussion with Nat and the manufacturer, the design was changed to clamp the muff
on with worm drive hose clamps. I strongly urge everone to not to fly with the welded muff, and change to the new design.
I'll be starting my annual next week, and report a years wear and tear on the new design.