Fergus,
I've tried to think of all kinds of safety mechanisms, I've come to the
conclusion that the only hope is to increase the degree of overcentre
locking and to ensure that when the LG12 is in the downgate, the LG08s are
jammed hard against the stops and there is no play anywhere to allow the
overcentre to be 'tripped' by a severe unloading of the suspension such as
would have happened when my aircraft surged over that bump. When it first
hit the bump, the suspension would have been fully compressed, then when the
wheel left the ground the suspension would have been very suddenly unloaded
and would have snapped back so fast that it must have tripped the overcentre
lock. Then when the wheel hit the ground again with the full weight of the
aircraft (plus g forces), there was nothing there to take the load except
the LG12 lever and the downgate in the cockpit ... Game over!
Graeme
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Fergus Kyle
Sent: 25 February 2007 16:40
Subject: Europa-List: Mono gear collapse
I was saddened to hear of that event - especially on take-off..........
and, of course because I contemplate the same possibility.
Is there a spot in the gear-down structure where the insertion of a
bar/lever/whatever mightr inhibit an over-centre travel on a bumpy take-off
(one which I may see fairly often up north)? It might also stop inadvertent
gear-up on display stands.
Ferg Kyle
Europa A064 914 Classic
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