> Alan, raises a good question about the monowheel - can anyone who has
> experienced a monowheel puncture on touch-down say what happened please?
Yes, I can.
As Dave Watts mentioned earlier, I had a puncture on landing at Laddingford
just over a year ago. I was giving a lady her first experience of flying in
a light aircraft, on initial touch down all seemed normal, but within a few
meters I experience a rapid deceleration as if the brake was on.
Instinctively I checked the brake even though I was certain I had checked it
prior to landing.
I didn't realise it was a puncture immediately because the aircraft was
still tracking straight, but after a few more meters it dawn on me. The
thought of bits of prop blade flying off in different directions flashed
through my mind together with a shock loaded engine, ground loops etc. - its
amazing how much can flash through your mind in a couple of seconds! I even
had time to tell my passenger what had happened before we stopped, even
though it was the shortest ground run ever. All I could do was hold the
stick back and peddle like mad. Directional control was only lost a the last
moment and we managed to stay on the runway with no damage other than a
scrap tyre and tube the prop was unscathed. I'm not so sure it would have
been quite so un-dramatic if it had been on a hard runway but I think
providing you can avoid a ground loop and tip up, the prop would still
survive.
Fortunately there were plenty of people around to man handle the plane back
to the hangar, and with the aid of a spare tyre from Peter Kember a new tube
that I carried around with me and some lifting gear, and lots of help from
Dave Watts I was back in the air again within 2 Hours.
This little experience prompted the idea for the club Rescue Service. I was
lucky it happened at a Europa fly-in and there was plenty of help around,
but if I had been any where else it could have been a nightmare. I know at
least one other Europa with a puncture has been assisted by the Service
already. Thankfully punctures and other incidents are not too frequent on
Europas, but if you want a little extra comfort when you are away from base
it is available. Tubes and tyres are held in stock by the club ready for
your emergency, all you have to do is spend 15 on club membership. The
Rescue Service, Turing Kits, and loads of other benefits are all free to
members.
Jim Naylor
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