Gentlemen,
Two recent ground loops have occurred to proficient pilots.
In both cases the tail wheel had no stop installed or it had failed
previously during ground operations and was not repaired. In the course
of the landing and rollout, during a bounce and heading excursion the
tail wheel went well beyond 45 degrees of course and control was lost on
landing rollout which resulted in an outrigger grabbing and during the
ground loop the tips of the prop were damaged when tail rise occurred.
One pilot insisted the tail wheel actually spun forward at low speed.
Some older incidents indicate thatd without the limiter, other low speed
ground loops have occurred as the tail wheel control was lost. Europa
has always maintained that the limiter was necessary. Some have
insisted that a limiter was not necessary and or a swivel tail wheel was
preferred. Ground handling incidents indicate that the safer course is
to install the limiter as described in the manual.
Bottom line:
The mono needs a limiter on the tail wheel to preclude loss of control.
Either the Europa supplied spring pin limiter or a Graham Singleton
stop should be used.
Taxi, landing, and takeoff without the limiter may cause loss of
control.
To prevent tail wheel limiter damage, the aircraft should not be pushed
backwards as the tail wheel hollow shaft will contact the spring pin and
eventually the spring pin can be damaged and fail. Without a spring pin
limiter, the tail wheel can be flipped around and cause the tail wheel
springs to be stretched and fail especially when pushing the aircraft
backwards. Use a proper tail wheel trolley to pull the aircraft
backwards.
On a similar note:
Should the tail wheel spring arm be installed about 2 inches higher than
the manual described, the tail wheel geometry will actually drive the
rudder and flick the tail wheel around when passing 60 degrees causing
the tail wheel to restrict rudder movement and a loss of control will
occur.
I have voiced my opinion on the spring pin used in the tail wheel was
not as robust as I would like and should be inspected annually, but the
Graham Singleton V block works great and is pretty much full proof.
Either way, please install the limiter, as without it, it is just a
matter of time before a potential loss of control may occur during
ground operations.
Regards,
Bud Yerly
Europa Tech Support
|