Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site lems.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hao!seismo!harvard!wjh12!foxvax1!brunix!lems!ltn From: ltn@lems.UUCP (Les Niles) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Re: Control surface failure Message-ID: <151@lems.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Dec-84 13:27:39 EST Article-I.D.: lems.151 Posted: Mon Dec 3 13:27:39 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 9-Dec-84 03:31:51 EST References:Reply-To: ltn@lems.UUCP (Les Niles) Organization: lems Lines: 44 [] In article jgpo@ihu1e.UUCP (John, KA9MNK) writes: >... >We decided that a rudder failure probably wouldn't be too bad. An elevator >failure would be pretty tense, but the plane might be flyable to a controlled >crash using trim. An aileron failure would be extremely bad news, but a >good pilot *might* be able to survive the crash by trying to keep the wings >level with fast and furious rudder work. > >We didn't even want to think about multiple failures. > >Does anyone have any ideas on the subject? Or worse, any experience with >control surface failure? This could be an interesting subject for >discussion, so why not post your replies? > > John Opalko Well, not really control surface failures, but i do have some data points and i don't think the failure of any one surface would be that bad, if it just streamlined. A couple of years ago i took some dual from a CFI who has been flying 50 years, and who didn't think much of my (rather horrible) over-manipulation of the controls. To make a point, he offered to take me once around the patch (including take-off & landing) *without touching the control wheel* (the plane was a C-150 Aerobat). I knew better than to argue & said ok. He had the rudder pedals & nose wheel steering for directional control, and the elevator trim to rotate for the takeoff. The turns in the air skidded a lot, of course, but it turned just fine. He flared with the trim also, and added some aileron at the last minute due to a crosswind (wasn't necessary, but he didn't want to unnecessarily injure the landing gear). I'm sure a no-rudder trip would be even easier, except for holding the centerline on takeoff. I also remember reading a story in Flying about a crew that took off in a fairly large twin with *all* the (external) control locks on. They managed to get back by using elevator trim and power to control pitch, and differential thrust to turn. Unless a failure is holding a control surface deflected (as apparently happened with the trim tab), i don't think there'd be much problem. The one that i always wonder about is assymetric flap deployment: One wing with full flaps and the other with none probably would generate an uncontrollable roll. -les niles