ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Yesterday early morning I flew to my friends dirt runway for breakfast. It was a sunny morning and everything seemed calmed as usual. Right before taking off for the return flight I noticed a very unusual strong wind right across the runway which  runs eats-west. My home field runs north-south. I also saw fog comming from the ocean so it was time to make the short return flight. The wind took me back home on a bumpy flight in record time. I saw the wind sock showing a very strong north wind aligned to my runway. It should be fine I thought. The little plane shook a lot while going down and doing a fast two wheel landing  proved to be the right choice until it was almost finish, when letting the plane sit on its tail wheel all of the sudden I had my left wing up  and the  plane did a left ground loop. Then I realized the wind was also changing directions.
What I learned here is  pay attention all the way to the end when landing on those conditions. This is a very light plane and not because you're at 15-20 mph you should relax, specially when going from two to three wheel position.
When I saw the windspeed meter it showed 18 to 20 mph wind. Maybe nothing for most of you but for our pacefull wether this was a very challenging situation and a good experience on my 85th Minimax landing.

For some reason I forgot to turn on the wing video camera  on the return leg.

These experiences are very potent reminders of the fact that what we are flying is more akin to an ultralight than a Cessna.

Well done Ricardo...Im Glad all is good.

we have all done that....similar to me, however I was freezing cold (Open cockpit) with a full bladder....you can guess the outcome...

Our Rudders are strong and powerful...and we need to keep pedaling all the way to the hangar.

with time and more experience you will look back on this Ground loop and wonder why it happened at all.

to all ...Fly safe...as Fred Flinstone says...Keep pedaling...!!

regards Arthur

Thanks for sharing your experience Ricardo, we all need this reminder every once in awhile.  Sometimes the outcome of what you did results in bent gear or damaged wingtip.  Apparently you had neighter.  These things happen quickly and once past a certain point, there is no recovery.  All you can do is ride it out.  I am glad you suffered no damage.  

Someone once said, we need to learn from the experience of others because we won't live long enough to make all of them ourselves.  Again thanks for shaing your experience.

Paul D. Fiebich

I have always been told there are two types of tail dragger pilots "those who have ground looped and those who eventually will." I've had mine. I watched a guy ground loop a T-6 Texan at Sun & fun and a "new" used wing to get back home cost him $6,000 and that was in the early 90's. We could buy a whole new Max kit for that kind of change.

been there, done that... and a better pilot because of it....

Here's another HD video, it was the morning I did the ground loop on the return flight. This beautiful weather turn into a 20 mph winds in less than one hour, very unusual in this area. It's a pitty I forgot to turn on the camera for the return leg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxX44EdYyqA

The ocean flight video was rejected by Utube several times (maybe because of the topless girls) I see if I can fix it  so you can get to see the girls...and the flight as a bonus