Full Lotus Saves Plane And Pilot After Engine Failure
I would like to report an incident involving your floats and amphib gear during the month of July'85.
I am an experienced ultralight pilot having logged hundreds of hours on a variety of aircraft.
I had just taken off from a 300 foot long, rough, grassy runway. Visibility was good, head winds were 5 mph with little or no turbulence. Beyond the runway was an extremely rough field covered by high scattered brush.
As I climbed to 80 feet under full power with a high angle of attack, I experienced an abrupt engine failure. With no apparent landing site and without power I was forced to make a simultaneous turn and flair. My forward speed was only 20 mph and I was experiencing a rapid vertical descent. In view of my situation there was no choice but to crash headlong into a very large willow.
Upon hitting the willow the left float was the first point of contact. I felt a very soft deceleration as the float rapidly deformed against the tree.
The floats and amphib gear absorbed the full impact of the collision leaving the aircraft and myself suspended in the willow. Neither the floats or aircraft sustained any damage nor did I receive any personal injury.
Although only a minor incident, the rate of shock absorption from your floats was unlike anything I had ever experienced with typical fiberglass or aluminum floats. On numerous other occasions I found your floats to be very resilient when subjected to the often hazardous conditions of float flying.
Now when I fly it is understandably with a greater sense of security knowing this significant safety characteristic of your inflatable floats.
Larry Croome
Director - Research and Development
SPECTRUM AIRCRAFT LTD
I would like to report an incident involving your floats and amphib gear during the month of July'85.
I am an experienced ultralight pilot having logged hundreds of hours on a variety of aircraft.
I had just taken off from a 300 foot long, rough, grassy runway. Visibility was good, head winds were 5 mph with little or no turbulence. Beyond the runway was an extremely rough field covered by high scattered brush.
As I climbed to 80 feet under full power with a high angle of attack, I experienced an abrupt engine failure. With no apparent landing site and without power I was forced to make a simultaneous turn and flair. My forward speed was only 20 mph and I was experiencing a rapid vertical descent. In view of my situation there was no choice but to crash headlong into a very large willow.
Upon hitting the willow the left float was the first point of contact. I felt a very soft deceleration as the float rapidly deformed against the tree.
The floats and amphib gear absorbed the full impact of the collision leaving the aircraft and myself suspended in the willow. Neither the floats or aircraft sustained any damage nor did I receive any personal injury.
Although only a minor incident, the rate of shock absorption from your floats was unlike anything I had ever experienced with typical fiberglass or aluminum floats. On numerous other occasions I found your floats to be very resilient when subjected to the often hazardous conditions of float flying.
Now when I fly it is understandably with a greater sense of security knowing this significant safety characteristic of your inflatable floats.
Larry Croome
Director - Research and Development
SPECTRUM AIRCRAFT LTD