<VV> Corvair Plane Crashall - obviously it's the Corvair design !!!!!

[Mark Durham]

When I said fuel related, I wasn't really pointing to auto fuel or
avgas, both work well in this carb. I'd bet something else went wrong,
a plugged jet, not rigged properly, etc. For example on the aircraft I
investigated, the mixture control housing was anchored to the
firewall, so any time the engine torqued under power (the engine would
rotate a bit radially in the opposite direction of the propeller
swing), it would change the mixture to lean. The mixture control
should have been anchored to the carb housing. However, this was not
what got that guy, it was when he put the carb together. The mixture
control shaft was indexed wrong (and was a old worn out part he was
trying to save money with) and moved when the engine torqued over on
takeoff and went lean. Things get expodentially complex when you think
about using parts on aircraft. There are no "cloud runways" to stop
off on.  Mark Durham


On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 9:34 PM, Charles Lee <chaz at properproper.com> wrote:
> I believe this pilot, who is fairly local to me, crashing just about 10
> miles south of here, was NOT running auto fuel, but aviation fuel, and
> reportedly did not have any ethanol content.
>
> I'm not certain of the advantages or disadvantages of ethanol (for the
> engine), but it seems if it's disadvantage is exacerbated in flight, then it
> may not be as good for engines as they try to make us believe ?
>
> Even more so, for older cars that have components that can be compromised by
> ingredients found in newer fuels ?
>
> I don't know the guy but he crashed on a road that I use for mountain biking
> on my route around Lake Skinner.
> There is a sign by this lake prohibited "body contact" in the lake, so it's
> a good thing he didn't land in it, or no one could rescue him ;>}) ?
>
> He's OK though, and now truly belongs to the Corvair club having had his
> 'Corvair" flip over for no reason at all - obviously it's the Corvair design
> !!!!!
>
> Charlie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Mark Durham
> Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 8:39 PM
> To: Bruce Schug
> Cc: VirtualVairs
> Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair Plane Crash
>
> Hmmm, does sound fuel related. However, it is not uncommon for people
> to run automotive fuel in their aircraft, there is a STC for doing so,
> but they are to avoid ethanol laced fuel. The needle at the carb fuel
> inlet and the accelerator pump have surfaces that could swell,
> however, otherwise the carb is no more complex than our Corvair carbs,
> accept they have a mixture control. I did an accident investigation (I
> am a Aviation Safety Inspector by trade) a few years ago here in the
> Spokane area, a homebuilt with a nice looking Corvair engine in it,
> quit on first takeoff, the owner, not an A&P, did some funky things to
> the marvel carb and it quit on first takeoff, the owner did not
> survive. Mark Durham
>
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 7:28 AM, Bruce Schug <bwschug at att.net> wrote:
>> Hope Nader doesn't hear about this.
>>
>>
>> http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/55843/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>> Bruce W. Schug
>> CORSA South Carolina
>> CORSA member since 1980
>> Performance Corvair Group
>> Stock Corvair Group
>> VirtualVairs
>> FastVairs
>> '67 Monza, "67AC140"
>> bwschug at att.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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