Pietenpol-List: Richar Decosta

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Original Posted By: Gary Gower
Richard,I neglected to screw on the nut holding the spark lead on to the spark plug.the lead was in the hole but I did not screw the nut to lock it in place. Itwas cyl. #5, starboard/front. Got to 120 feet and mushed to 75 feet. Then Istalled very abruptly and sharp to the left. I only had 75 feet to work withso I very lucky to alive. I kick right rudder, momentarily put the stickforward, and right ailerons at the same time, then just before entering aspin I pulled up elevator and was coming out of the forward dive. I was justrounding out when I hit with slight right wing down. Hit the corn, snappedthe right wing at the lift struts, rotated 180 degrees from where I wascoming from. The undercarriage collapsed into a pretzel and the forward fusefrom the 1st station ripped off separating the engine from the Fuse. Most ofthe energy dissipated away from me when that happened. All this happened inabout 2 seconds flat. My chin hit the turtle deck covering the pilot'sinstrument panel and it went flying through the air with the GPS I had justinstalled that morning. I hit the ground sort of flat, but in a forwardmotion. The forward speed was low probably about 20 knots. I now know wheremy stall speed is = 30 Knots on the nose. I have not rebuilt yet. I justhaven't got the inclination to do so yet, but I will. I have sent a Lyc.O-235- C (100 H.P.) engine to the shop and am just waiting to see how muchit will cost (I expect $10K. Can.) I really don't have the money to pay themthough. I will not go to Brodhead this year, this way I'll save a few bucksand put it toward the re-build. I have been thinking of building the WittmanButtercup. A friend near Rochester is preparing professional drawings theplane. There are only two in existence. One at the museum in Oshkosh theother in his shop. It is in the process of being built. I hope to be hisfirst customer. The Lyc. would be the perfect engine for it. As for theCorvair, I am going to re-engineer a redrive for it. A friend has engineeredone for his V.W. but it needs to be scaled up a little. It's better than anyI've seen on the market. If you go to Brodhead say hello to everyone for me.Keep in Touch,Domenico Bellissimo________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 18:05:21 -0700 (PDT)

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Original Posted By: "Randall Henderson"
Sorry to hear about that Domenico. Just glad to hear your ok.By the way, did you have shoulder harnesses? I've worried about a roughdead stick landing without shoulder harnesses.Greg________________________________________________________________________________