Draco's crash at Reno
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:39 pm
If anyone is following STOL Drag racing at Reno, you undoubtedly know the unfortunate loss of Draco.
Mike Patey is a standup guy and has accepted pilot decision as the factor.
When I look at the video that is available, Draco is in a marked cross wind, right landing gear articulation fully compressed.
When he takes off, there is an abrupt change in attitude, that, although I will accept Mike's mea culpa, appears to be a right landing gear fails, overloaded beyond design intention.
The video we have, unfortunately, has a 3 second blank of view at this critical point.
I think the Wilga gear could not take it.
The right gear collapsed, and that is what Mike describes as a gust he has never felt before.
Anyway,
In retrospect I think Mike should have just done what he would do if there were no tower to interfere.
I think Mike could probably have been able to do that takeoff without difficulty, altho he obviously could have made it a lot easier.
The Wilga suspension failed. In a condition it was not designed for.
FWIW. Paul
Mike Patey is a standup guy and has accepted pilot decision as the factor.
When I look at the video that is available, Draco is in a marked cross wind, right landing gear articulation fully compressed.
When he takes off, there is an abrupt change in attitude, that, although I will accept Mike's mea culpa, appears to be a right landing gear fails, overloaded beyond design intention.
The video we have, unfortunately, has a 3 second blank of view at this critical point.
I think the Wilga gear could not take it.
The right gear collapsed, and that is what Mike describes as a gust he has never felt before.
Anyway,
In retrospect I think Mike should have just done what he would do if there were no tower to interfere.
I think Mike could probably have been able to do that takeoff without difficulty, altho he obviously could have made it a lot easier.
The Wilga suspension failed. In a condition it was not designed for.
FWIW. Paul