Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Pieters,Sad news to report. After I left Brodhead and with an overnight stop in Marshalltown,I arrived in Jefferson IA.Early the next morning, I took off and headed west over the town. It was a beautifulmorning, slightly hazy wih the sun just coming over the horizon. I wasjust over the west edge of town in a cruise climb configuration at about 500feet when the engine quit, just like someone turned off the ignition. I onlyhad one choice, which was a small backyard pasture of a home on the edge of town.At one end of the field, there was a gap in between some trees and so I headedthere, "threaded the needle" and put Mountain Piet down. The terrain was uphilland so the rollout was going to be fairly short, but still dicey whether ornot I could get the plane stopped before the barn, so I decided to ground loopPiet. As I started to swing around to the right, the left wing struck somelarge posts about 1/2 way out on the span. The impact swung the plane aroundto the left and next thing I knew, I had a crumpled wing wrapped around the leftside of Mountain Piet.I climbed out and looked around expecting someone to come out of one of the nearbyhouses. Dead silence! No one showed up. I got the camera out and decidedto take a few pictures of the plane along with the offending posts. Still noone! I put the camera away and walked up to the house which was located behindthe barn and found a small shop with the radio going and a sign that read,"Rug Weaving".Went inside and found an older gentleman working on a loom. Told him that I hadjust crashed my plane in his pasture, and asked to use the phone. "Over there"he said. and kept on weaving. Got a card out of my wallet and called themanager of the Jefferson Airport hoping that he was up. He answered and saidhe would come out right away, "What's the address?" I asked the man who was stillweaving and he said "811 West South Street" and I repeated it to the airportmanager. The man weaving stopped, looked me over and asked if I was hurt, I said no, hewent back to weaving the rug he was working on. Acted as if the crash was aneveryday occurance. We talked for awhile about how he got into the rug weavingbusiness, where he sold them and how he made them etc. Finally he said, "Well,let's go take a look." We went out and looked the situation over. Satisfiedhe went back to the shop, I went out and sat on the curb in front of the housewaiting for Kirk, the airport manager, to arrive.Kirk arrived and we figured out the tools required and both of us went to the airportto get them. Still no one around the plane. Kirk phoned a friend whohad a trailer and he said he would help. Went back to the pasture and found a neighbor had come out of his house along withseveral kids standing around the Mountain Piet just respectfully looking thingsover. We took the wings off, loaded the plane, I went back to the shopand thanked the Weaver for the use of his pasture and then we headed for the airport.There was a tight hangar and we put Piet in there.Tried to start engine and it would start right away, run a moment and then die.Fuel pressure OK, but acted as if the filter had clogged up. No water in fuelwhen we checked, I was in no mood to pull cowl and start trouble shooting.Locked up hangar and called friend who was at Oshkosh on his cell phone. Hesaid would come in his new RV-8 and retrieve me. Good, I guess that I will spenda few unplanned days at the show! We flew home in the -8 monday.The damage to Piet is confined to the wing which is toast, but I would also pullthe center section and take a close look at it. The front spar of the centersection shows slight damage where the metal fitting attaches to the wing panel.Everything else on Mountain Piet seems OK.I simply don't have the heart to build another wing panel for the plane so am goingto sell it where is and as is, for the best offer. Anyone interested?John________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 08:23:22 -0400

Original Posted By: "Richard Navratil"
John,I'm very sorry to learn of the accident. Sure I might be interested but I wouldsay don't sell it until you have given it some more thought. In six monthsyou may be kicking yourself and saying "Why did I ever let it go?" Heck I stillregret selling a little Farmall Cub I didn't need at the moment.It looks like parts of the wing might be salvageable. Maybe others could giveyou a hand, I know I would be willing to build a few ribs or at least cut someparts for you.Kind regards,Bob B. - MissouriP.S. The brighter side is they could have taken you out of there on a stretcher.8)________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: John Dilatush
JohnGlad to hear you walked away ok.Do you need a place to store the plane for a while? I am in Mpls, Mn and havesome spare hangar space and a trailer.Dick N. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Textor, Jack"

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Mountain Piet is wounded!John, Glad you got out unhurt! I'm in Des Moines which is about an hourfrom Jefferson. If I can assist with any ground work here just let meknow.Jack Textor 515-225-7000 work ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 10:40:09 -0400

Original Posted By: BARNSTMR(at)aol.com

Original Posted By: Ron Hargrove

Original Posted By: John Dilatush
damn John, that really sucks. You did good with what you were handed. I amalways fearful of the dreaded dead-stick at low altitude. I hope I never haveto experience it first hand.I can understand your feeling about not wanting to fool with fixing it, but maybea little time might change your mind. When I lose one of my large scale RCplanes or helicopters to a crash I feel the same way. Sometimes those crashescan cost me well over $1500. Right after I feel sick about it and claim thatI'm just gonna sell all my RC stuff and move on. Eventually I get past itand recover, but it does affect my mood big time.Maybe just sit tight for a couple weeks.... let the initial shock wear off andthen reevaluate your thoughts on selling.In any case I'm VERY glad you came away from this intact. DJ ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: John Dilatush
John,Just as another person said, give yourself a couple day to think it over. Don'tset yourself up for any "woulda, shoulda, coulda's" later. I bought my spruce kit from AS&S and I "had to" take the rib material (i.e.: packagedeal) even though I didn't need it because I already have the pre-builtribs from Charles. I've been wondering what the hell I was going to do with allthat extra wood. About all it's good for up here to me is a small bonfire.Tell you what, the rib material is yours if you'll accept it. All you haveto do is pay for the shipping...Now the bad news, I live in the Alaskan Bush so shipping will no doubt be a littlemore than the lower 48, however, I have a solution for that too. I mightsuggest to others reading this that someone manage a small fund to get the woodto John. (I don't have time to do that). When I shipped the material up hereit cost me $350.00 (the entire spruce kit plus some extra wood and T-88 thatis) [5 boxes at 150 lbs total]. I still have the long boxes the material camein. So, I would guess just shipping the rib material would be less than $50.00Ground. (For reference I'm in area code 99559). Maybe someone else coulddonate the spar material, and so on...John, this isn't charity by any means. This is just guys gathering around in a"virtual hanger" scratching their collective heads figuring out how to get MountainPiet flying again. Your aircraft is an inspiration to a lot of us (thoughI won't be using a Subaru anytime soon ). All I ask in return is thatyou lead me through your neck of the woods as I fly from here in the bush to WashingtonD.C. in a couple of years, but that's another story.StacyThe Bethel Belle ProjectBethel, Alaska There is only one greater thing than to believe in the impossible...and that isto achieve it -- Stacy Clark ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Carl D. Vought"

Original Posted By: Gary Gower
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Mountain Piet is wounded!John,I'm sorry to hear of your engine failure and forced landing but am glad to hear you're OK. You obvioulsy did a fantatic job of getting it in that field.I'll be glad to make you some replacement ribs or whatever else I can do to help get you back in the air. Don't give up on your beautiful Piet just yet. Tom Travis________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 12:35:08 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: Richard Carden
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Tailwheel steeringTerry,I had a small problem when I first began taxiing 41CC. I had a few months before flown a Christian Eagle and I was all over the runway because of the shortarm on the steering tail wheel. ( That's different from the Army's short arm). 41CC felt the same as the Eagle. It has a 6 inch steerable Scott. Both thet/w and rudder horn cables terminate on the ends of the rudder bar. I decided to fab two strips of 4130 3/4X 6 .080 to extend the t/w steering arms. Drilledextra holes in the Scott steering arms for mounting screws and 2 holes for cable spring mountings. I found that the fartherest holes outboard were too wideand made turning difficult so I came back to the hole nearer inboard and foundit perfect. Felt like an Aeronca steering reaction. You might wait until it's taxiing time to try this as the FEEL of a plane is a very personal thing. Also, as I became accustomed to the plane it would havebeen natural to have flown it with the first configuration. You have to learn to fly those little dudes as well as build them. Hopes this helpsCorky, still in La living the good life with his bride.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 17:03:47 -0400

Original Posted By: John Dilatush
John,"any landing that you can walk away from...." well you know the rest. Count your blessings, and think about the instructor that did the engine outs withyou.Anyway,,,glad to hear your OK, and I think that all the advice that the guys aregiving is good. Don't be too quick to sell. I think it's good advice.It's a bittersweet feeling, that in a weird way you can be proud that you madea landing that we all think of and wonder, when the time comes, how it will turnout.walt evansNX140DL ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Carl D. Vought"

Original Posted By: Gary Gower
Pieters,I can't thank you all enough for your concerns about both "Mountain Piet" and myself.When I started this project in 1995, I wanted to build a Pietenpol with enoughhorsepower at my field elevation (7000 ft msl) that I could fly it safely andget it in and out of primitive strips here in the Rockies at higher elevations.In this, I feel that I have succeeded. A Pietenpol is a fine, simple designthat will handle more horsepower even at a higher gross weight and can performon a par with even a 180 hp super cub up here in our rarified air.Your advice to wait a little while before making a decision to sell the bird isgood advice, but I had already decided before the accident to sell the plane.The project, in my mind anyway, was completed and I had proved my point.Not only has the project succeeded, but other factors have entered into my decisionto sell the plane. My age for one, I am 77 years old and have been flyingsince 1946 (Damn'd, I just realized that is 58 years!). Also entering the decisionto sell, I have found that an open cockpit here in the Rockies at altitudeis darned cold, limiting the use of the plane to only a few months of theyear. And then there is the family, I had promised to build some new furniture over 10years ago for my wife and never seemed to get around to it. I have a wholelot of deferred maintenance to do around the house. Kids and grandkids are urginggranddad to "give it up, you have cheated death enough times in those airplanes".It just the right time to sell "Mountain Piet" and get to doing some of the otherthings that need doing around here, the decision to sell was not precipitatedby the accident.I have mentioned this accident to participants on the list first because I wouldrather the plane go to someone who is knowledgable, enthusiastic, will do agood job of repair and appreciate the design and it's heritage. I hope you allwill understand this.Thanks again for your concerns and comments, it is good to feel all the supportthat you offer.John________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 18:24:24 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: "Mike Whaley"
John,It hurt to look at the picture of your wounded Piet but we are all thankful youwere not wounded. I met you at Brodhead and I appreciate you taking time to answerseveral questions I had about your plane. It is certainly a beautiful Piet.Based on the outstanding workmanship of your Piet the furniture you buildfor your wife should be strictly "blue ribbon" quality. Stay in touch with usand send us a picture of the completed furniture.Lynn KnollWichitaPiet/Vair in the works________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: John Dilatush
John, glad you're OK. Mountain Piet will be too, someday.Are you building the furniture as a Light Sport Sofa to hold two people at a time?Mike Whaley merlin@ov-10bronco.netWebmaster, OV-10 Bronco Associationhttp://www.ov-10bronco.net/ ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Mountain Piet is wounded!I just checked some of the 877 e-mails I have, and saw the misfortune that John had. Thank God, it didn't turn out any worse. John, one of the things I've discovered is that there are lots of folks, not just in the Pietenpol comunity, but airplane people in general, who are ready,willing, and able to help you. Even anxious to help. Airplane people are the greatest !! I hope you kick back and think about it for a while, before you sell 'Mountain Piet'.Chuck Gantzer________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 08:06:07 -0400

Original Posted By: "Hodgson, Mark O"

Original Posted By: baileys
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Richard Navratil
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Textor, Jack
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Textor, Jack
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By:
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Ron Hargrove"
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Ron Hargrove"
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Don Morris

Original Posted By: "John Dilatush"
> Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Mountain Piet is wounded!> To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com>>> John,>> Glad you got out unhurt! I'm in Des Moines which is about an hour> from Jefferson. If I can assist with any ground work here just let me> know.>> Jack Textor>> 515-225-7000 work>>> ________________________________>>________________________________________________________________________________