While ferrying my Kitfox amphib to a buyer in New Hampshire, the last leg of
the trip was getting pretty windy and ceilings were coming down a bit. Not
being familiar with the area. I decided to make a precautionary landing in
Pittsfield Mass., to check the Wx ahead and be sure of how the landscape
related to such. Good ideah, huh? Plenty of time, plenty of gas, do the
safe thing and stop to check. Although it was smooth sailing, at 5500', at
the surface it was blowing like snot and gusty to boot. Due to
construction, the prevailing wind runway at Pitts was closed and I had to
use an x-wind runway. Down here, I'd have simply landed across the runway,
because of the wind. Not knowing how the locals would have taken to such,
I elected to do the normal forward slip landing. Although I'd always
bragged about the Kitfox's ability to deal with crosswinds, because of the
authority of the flapperons, I was rudely introduced to the phenomenon that
I described. After putting her down, but before slowing enough, the left
wing lifted and she did a smart pirouette, 90 degrees to the right, making a
beeline off the runway straight to a runway light. Being a smarter pilot
than me, you won't be flying in such winds. Full left aileron, but she
didn't care. When that wing lifts, you're a passenger. Hang on! You guys
ever notice how freakin tall the runway lights are, up north? What is it
with you guys? They're darned near TOWERS! Well, I was able to miss the
light and figured I was just doin a bit of off-roading. No big deal, huh?
Well, before I could get her completely stopped (both little tires doin the
grass skid slide), we arrived at a bluff. Seems that Pittsfield is a
significantly hilly area and the runway is on top of a plateau. Problem is
that momentum (and the honking tailwind at this time) were allowing for a
stop about 6 feet PAST the edge of the bluff. Noting this, I told myself
that we were going over. I was right. So, just as I should have stopped,
the nose of the floats eased over the edge and the nosewheels dug in.
Instant outside 1/2 loop. Plane wasn't too bad, until the powers that be,
towed it across the airport with a dump truck and chains. Not their fault.
I'm the one that put it in the ravine.
Needless to say, the sale did not go through. I got out without a scratch,
but old One Kilo Foxtrot was a bit ill. Bought her back from the insurance
co. and re-built her. Made the first flight (on wheels) on the 1st
anniversary of the incident. Hell, it was an accident.. Took a bit longer
to fix the floats. I've got about 300 hrs of amphib time and have to say
that the floats add a dimension to flight that you have to experience to
understand. Wouldn't trade that time for anything. Although the Kitfox was
a wonderful plane to fly solo, adding another butt made her just a bit
lethargic, in addition to the fact that there wasn't room for storage. I
decided that I needed more plane, thus the Moose project. If anyone out
there is from Pittsfield, Mass., no offense fellas, but I'll never land
there again!
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: <Legeorgen@aol.com>
To: <murphy-rebel@dcsol.com>
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2004 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: First flight 1800 amphib
beOK,Bill...now I have to ask you how you know about the phenomenon? Don't
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*shy, I'm sure we've all been there.
Bruce
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