Teething trouble for the Cessna Skycatcher

[C]

"entered unrecoverable spin". Pilot bailed out.

Not an ideal situation, hopefully solved by some aerodynamic alterations. It's potentially a very nice aeroplane, so lets hope the programme's back on track soon.


http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CessnaSkycatcher_Prototype_Crash_198816-1.html

[RitterKreuz]

i was thinking about this the other day... perhaps not enough rudder authority?

there isnt much tail on those lil bubbly LSAs.  :-/

[Dr.bob7]

Cessna has always confused me with model numbers......... they seem to go in order except for 185s 195s and all the ancient models now the new Cessna is a 162  :-?

[Brett_Henderson]

I'm going to do more research before commenting (no I'm not)..

My first guess is that he was doing spin tests. That makes sense. It's hard to imagine that that an experienced test pilot would let a spin sneak up on him; even if there were some sort of mechanical failure.

I utterly discount non-pilot, witness accounts. When planes fall out of the sky, they tend to see and hear things that didn't happen..  like pops and sparks and smoke and fire-balls and wings falling off..

The full report will be interesting.

[Ivan]

[quote]I utterly discount non-pilot, witness accounts. When planes fall out of the sky, they tend to see and hear things that didn't happen..

[Fozzer]

Looks nice......!

..a replacement for the venerable Cessna 150/152?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_162

100 HP Continental O-200D  Engine. < 118 knots Cruise.

F...G-BPLF... 8-)...!

P.S.....Pssst....made in China!..;)...;)...!

P.P.S.....whey-up!...Just noticed, its lost its rear Cessna 150 window....so no looking behind with the rear-view mirror now!

All-round view...>>>

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ9MKchIFOk

[C]

[quote]
I utterly discount non-pilot, witness accounts. When planes fall out of the sky, they tend to see and hear things that didn't happen..

[skysurfer2010]

The test pilot entered an intentional spin at 10,000'. He wasn't able to recover and the ballistic chute didn't or would not deploy. That's all the info I've read so far.

The first production aircraft is now text model #2  :D