gismo
Touchdown! Greaser!
A friend was selling his Lancair (a past Grand Champion no less) this summer and with more than one offer on the table agreed to sell it to a buyer who saw it at OSH this year. I was visiting with him a week ago last Saturday when the buyer agreed to his terms over the phone. The buyer (I'm leaving out names because the buyer is a well known pilot and this may end up in the courts) wanted my friend to return the plane to OSH the next day so he could fly it home. My friend insisted that the buyer arrange for insurance and a full checkout by a CFI with significant Lancair experience before any flight and the buyer agreed. An Avemco rep right at OSH bound coverage and an instructor recommended by the Lancair folks on the field was lined up for the checkout.
Now I have to admit that overhearing this conversation left me believing that my friend was being a bit paranoid about his "baby" but given the quality of the job he did on it and the time he had invested I could understand.
When I got home last Saturday from Kansas he was standing in his hangar talking to another pilot friend of mine and the plane was gone. I stopped to confirm that he was able to complete the sale and delivery and he relayed the bad news point by point.
Point 1: He had indeed delivered the plane the previous Sunday.
Point 2: The buyer and his CFI managed to prang the airplane on their first flight. They encountered two occurances of a rudder trim runaway during the two hour training flight but each time they were able to retrim the plane adequately using the normal (electric) trim control which is a coolie hat on top of the stick. My friend and I both believe that the problem was most likely caused by one of the pilots resting some part of his hand on the trim control and inadvertently activating it. At no time during the flight did either pilot consider pulling the breaker for the trim which was clearly labeled and easily seen on the panel. The encountered a third trim runaway during their flare on the first landing performed by the buyer. The original story of the pilots given freely to several bystanders at the scene was that the buyer felt he was losing control and said "Your airplane" leaving the CFI to attempt a recovery which ended up in a very hard nosewheel first touchdown. The prop suffered damage in the form of three blades curled back an inch or so and there is clear evidence that the engine mount/nosegear attachment is bent (spinner no longer lines up with the cowling).
Point 3: A representative from Lancair inspected the trim system and declared it both operational and properly assembled.
Point 4: The buyer provided a signed promissary note for the purchase price and my friend accepted that because he felt the buyer was trustworthy and the banks were closed on Sunday. The buyer indicated that he had to complete the deal on Sunday so he could fly home the next morning. Later it was learned that he actually planned to return on Tuesday.
Point 5: When the buyer called my friend to report the mishap he indicated he "no longer wanted to buy the plane"
Point 6: Subsequently the buyer indicated he would consider "completing" the purchase if my friend discounts the plane now that it's damaged.
That's where it stood the last time we talked. There was also some discussion about the buyer's reluctance to report either the incident or the alleged trim failure to the FAA. My friend also expressed concern about accepting the plane back in either it's current unairworthy condition or after repairs were made by some other mechanic. So far the sale has turned into my friend's worst nightmare.
Now I have to admit that overhearing this conversation left me believing that my friend was being a bit paranoid about his "baby" but given the quality of the job he did on it and the time he had invested I could understand.
When I got home last Saturday from Kansas he was standing in his hangar talking to another pilot friend of mine and the plane was gone. I stopped to confirm that he was able to complete the sale and delivery and he relayed the bad news point by point.
Point 1: He had indeed delivered the plane the previous Sunday.
Point 2: The buyer and his CFI managed to prang the airplane on their first flight. They encountered two occurances of a rudder trim runaway during the two hour training flight but each time they were able to retrim the plane adequately using the normal (electric) trim control which is a coolie hat on top of the stick. My friend and I both believe that the problem was most likely caused by one of the pilots resting some part of his hand on the trim control and inadvertently activating it. At no time during the flight did either pilot consider pulling the breaker for the trim which was clearly labeled and easily seen on the panel. The encountered a third trim runaway during their flare on the first landing performed by the buyer. The original story of the pilots given freely to several bystanders at the scene was that the buyer felt he was losing control and said "Your airplane" leaving the CFI to attempt a recovery which ended up in a very hard nosewheel first touchdown. The prop suffered damage in the form of three blades curled back an inch or so and there is clear evidence that the engine mount/nosegear attachment is bent (spinner no longer lines up with the cowling).
Point 3: A representative from Lancair inspected the trim system and declared it both operational and properly assembled.
Point 4: The buyer provided a signed promissary note for the purchase price and my friend accepted that because he felt the buyer was trustworthy and the banks were closed on Sunday. The buyer indicated that he had to complete the deal on Sunday so he could fly home the next morning. Later it was learned that he actually planned to return on Tuesday.
Point 5: When the buyer called my friend to report the mishap he indicated he "no longer wanted to buy the plane"
Point 6: Subsequently the buyer indicated he would consider "completing" the purchase if my friend discounts the plane now that it's damaged.
That's where it stood the last time we talked. There was also some discussion about the buyer's reluctance to report either the incident or the alleged trim failure to the FAA. My friend also expressed concern about accepting the plane back in either it's current unairworthy condition or after repairs were made by some other mechanic. So far the sale has turned into my friend's worst nightmare.
