There can be a condition when the over centre flicks the other way and beco
mes =0Aunder centre. If the airplane bounces the gear then pulls downwards
for an =0Ainstant and if the lock is slightly loose the lever will allow it
to flick under =0Acentre. When the load comes back on the gear the inevita
ble collapse occurs.=0AGraham=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A____________________________
____=0AFrom: Tony Wickens <tonywickens@btconnect.com>=0ATo: europa-list@mat
ronics.com=0ASent: Friday, 10 June, 2011 22:33:12=0ASubject: Re: Europa-Lis
ny Wickens" <tonywickens@btconnect.com>=0A=0AThe retraction lever should be
taking no load when the u/c is extended but =0Amerely hold the mechanism i
n the over centre position. From the pictures it =0Awould seem that a great
load has been put on the retraction lever indicating =0Athat the mechanism
was not in the over centre position when the lever was in the =0Adown and
locked detent. This is something that should be carefully checked =0Aduring
set up and during servicing checks. I am very sorry for Jeff as it looks
=0Aa lovely aircraft but it should be quite easy to repair. Remember to sen
d me =0Asome pictures for the Europa Flyer when she is flying again=0ARegar
ds=0ATony=0A=0A-----Original Message----- From: Ken Carpenter=0ASent: Satur
day, June 04, 2011 1:36 AM=0ATo: europa-list@matronics.com=0ASubject: Re: E
uropa-List: N127ZP Landing gear failure.=0A=0A--> Europa-List message poste
d by: Ken Carpenter <kbcarpenter@comcast.net>=0A=0AHad same event when taxi
ng my plane. I did not have mod 51. There is still the =0Aissue of the ge
ar needing to be over center. I am sure someone else can =0Adescribe it be
tter than I. My rotax did not have to be torn down but the prop =0Ablades
had to be replaced and the tunnel repaired. Mine looked about like yours
=0Aif that is any consolation. I hoisted it up by the engine while doing t
he =0Aunderneath repair.=0A=0ASent from my iPad=0A=0AOn Jun 3, 2011, at 2:1
5 PM, "Jeffrey J Paris" <jeffrey-j-paris@excite.com> =0Awrote:=0A=0A> Hi Bu
d,=0A> =0A> We had a major problem today, during a taxi and a stationary ru
n-up our landing =0A>gear collapsed and nuked our prop and pancaked our air
plane onto the tarmac at =0A>my local airport. Needless to say I'm feeling
a bit devastated, but I'm very =0A>grateful as my Father pointed out ,"tha
t thank god I wasn't taking off or =0A>landing when the gear failed." I ha
d to agree wholeheartedly! Anyways, any =0A>ideas or has anyone else out t
here suffered the same problem? During my build I =0A>definitely was conce
rned that the "Gear" handle was doing 3 jobs, =0A>deploying/retracting the
main gear, flaps and outriggers. My aircraft has been =0A>on the mains sin
ce last September and has been moved in and out of the hanger =0A>many time
s, what gives besides the gear? I have attached some pictures that may =0A
>shed some light to your experienced eye.=0A> =0A> Looks like a total tear
down for the engine? Mod 51 incorporated. The aircraft =0A>is insured, my
Father was a successful Insurance Agent and we are covered =0A>pending an i
nspection from claims.=0A> =0A> Accident Information regarding N127ZP Euro
pa Monowheel Classic.=0A> =0A> Pilot/Owner: Jeff Paris at controls at time
of accident, Phase I of ground =0A>testing.=0A> =0A> When: June 3, 2011 ap
proximately 12:30 PM at hanger located SDC perfect VFR =0A>conditions.=0A>
=0A> Where: Parked on Taxiway on south side of field=0A> =0A> How and Wha
t: Was test running engine up on taxiway near hanger. Aircraft was =0A>sta
tionary with parking brake engaged. During engine run-up pilot looked down
=0A>to close throttle after successful run-up and noticed that the landing
gear =0A>handle was bent/bending to the left. Pilot immediately attempted
to shut down =0A>engine when the gear collapsed and propeller struck the g
round and stopped =0A>engine. At time of preflight inspection and up to a
ccident all safety latches =0A>for the landing gear on the aircraft appeare
d to be functioning and engaged as =0A>designed. Aircraft dismantled and st
ored in owners hanger, pending review of =0A>damage.=0A> =0A> I guess we al
l heard the saying there are two types of retractable pilots one =0A>that h
as had a gear up landing and those that will, I didn't expect to have a =0A
>collapse just sitt ing there monitoring the gauges. . . WTF!=0A> =0A> Than
ks for your time and consideration.=0A> =0A> Jeff Paris=0A> =0A> =0A> <IMG_
2504.jpg>=0A> <IMG_2505.jpg>=0A> <IMG_2506.jpg>=0A> <IMG_2508.jpg>=0A=0A=0A
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