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.