Friend Down

[WesRagle]

HI Lou,

Is that high-wing kit ready for sale yet??

It's good to see you in such high spirits.

I have my suspicions about the loss of power but have not been able to inspect the engine. Not sure if I will ever be allowed to. If the FAA and NTSB let me, I will join them on Thursday. Fingers crossed.

Since you built the plane, and since the FAA has deemed that you are allowed to perform annual inspections, it would seem like a bureaucratic disconnect if the NTSB didn't want you to be involved in the investigation.

So Happy You're OK,

Wes

[Gmoney]

Lou, glad you are okay!


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[gammaxy]

Lou,

Really glad you're okay. I'd be interested in hearing more about the nose-over. I've casually considered wearing a helmet. Sounds like the seat belt and airframe structure kept you from hitting your head?

[pappas]

No, I have a good lump on the right top of my head. I have a few rivet marks from what I think was the plate that joins the top of the fuselage. The 4-point harness did its job and I had to manage not to fall on my head when I released it.

[Matt541]

Wow, glad to hear you're ok Lou!

Lou,

Really glad you're okay. I'd be interested in hearing more about the nose-over. I've casually considered wearing a helmet. Sounds like the seat belt and airframe structure kept you from hitting your head?

I personally decided to wear a helmet every time in my Sonex after a lot of consideration and researching various engine out/ emergency landing incidents. (My wife may have helped make that decision...)

More importantly, flying it all the way down saved the day here. Well done sir!

[pappas]

Peter, I just re-read these and noticed your question. I have a shut-off valve at the tank drain, then a red cube fuel flow sender, then an aluminum tube to the firewall fitting. From the firewall to the aeroinjector is a flex-fuel line insulated with fire sleeve and 2000 degree sealant. I do not have the check valve in the tank vent. My tank vent runs across the top rear of the firewall and down to the left gear leg. In this incident, being upside-down, the fuel could only have leaked from the cap, (didn't happen), or from a cracked tank, (didn't happen). The tank vent was about the highest point in the system and couldn't leak there. So all in all, I am happy with the fuel tank design and construction.

I just can't express enough that almost anything is better than a stall spin. Learn to fly at the minimum controllable airspeed and practice it. It is cheap cuz you only burn about 2 gallons per hour to fly that slow with the Sonex.

[GordonTurner]

Matt. I’ve been thinking about helmuts too. What’d you get…and how is wearing it?

Gordon

[GraemeSmith]

Here you go Lou - you made the AIN

ate: 15-NOV-21
Time: 18:10:00Z
Regis#: N535D
Aircraft Make: SONEX
Aircraft Model: WAIEX B
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
LOCATION
City: PHOENIX
State: ARIZONA
Country: UNITED STATES
DESCRIPTION
Description: AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD, STRUCK A FENCE AND METAL POLE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED, PHOENIX, AZ.
INJURY DATA
Total Fatal: 0
Fatal Serious Minor None Unk
Flight Crew 0 0 0 1 0
Cabin Crew 0 0 0 0 0
Pax 0 0 0 0 0
Ground 0 0 0 0 0
OTHER
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Operator:
Flight Number:
FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE FSDO
Entry Date: 16-NOV-21

[pappas]

Hmmm, Recognition that no one strives for, I guess.

[GordonTurner]

No cabin crew?