Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uiucdcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!irwin From: irwin@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Re: Control surface failure Message-ID: <7900028@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 6-Dec-84 00:45:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.7900028 Posted: Thu Dec 6 00:45:00 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 07:26:46 EST References: <348@ihu1e.UUCP> Lines: 20 Nf-ID: #R:ihu1e:-34800:uiucdcs:7900028:000:1106 Nf-From: uiucdcs!irwin Nov 28 23:45:00 1984 I grew up in northern Michigan, and I can remember the crash of a J3 Cub, due to aileron failure. The cable snapped, and the ailerons fluttered so badly that control with rudder to keep the wings level was impossible. The J3 went into a grove of trees beside a lake where I was in a boat fishing. I quickly rowed to the shore and climbed the bank up to level ground. I could see the plane in the grove, and ran over to it. There was no fire, the plane was on the ground, did not end up in a tree. I helped the pilot and passenger who were badly shook up, to get out of the plane. There was some cuts and bleeding. I ran about a third of a mile to my car, came back as close as I could and got them off to a hospital. In my conversation with the pilot, he said the flutter was so bad that he could not keep it level. They were doing takeoffs and landings in a field across the road from the grove. The plane did a left bank into the grove, which he could not correct with rudder. They had just taken off and were at about 200 feet in a mild climb when the cable gave out. I hope this is food for thought.