Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site phoenix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!mhuxn!houxm!ihnp4!phoenix!brent From: brent@phoenix.UUCP (Brent P. Callahan) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Re: Control surface failure Message-ID: <937@phoenix.UUCP> Date: Thu, 6-Dec-84 09:03:53 EST Article-I.D.: phoenix.937 Posted: Thu Dec 6 09:03:53 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 02:12:19 EST References: <348@ihu1e.UUCP>, <207@terak.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft NJ Lines: 26 Some years ago I witnessed an amazing escape from elevator & stabilizer failure on a Cherokee six. The aircraft had climbed to 8000 feet with a load of skydivers. The first to exit the aircraft made a bad mistake: he pulled his ripcord as he left the doorway. His pilot chute deployed his parachute across the top of the stabilizer as he fell away. Fortunately, the parachute deployed OK although the left stabilizer was bent down vertically. The aircraft entered a steep spiral dive with the rest of the skydivers struggling against building G's to escape. The pilot was also wearing a parachute. His escape was blocked by a terrified lady observer who had no intention of using her emergency chute. The pilot abandoned his bailout plans. Although the elevator & trim were completely jammed, he managed to exit the dive and brought the aircraft in to land with careful use of power and C of G adjustment by moving the lady up and down the cabin. The bent stabilizer marked a furrow along the grass runway. No one was injured and the aircraft was airborne again a few weeks later. -- Brent Callaghan AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ {ihnp4|hogpc|pegasus}!phoenix!brent (201) 576-4439