Our new Liberty

[Brett_Henderson]

I don't think I mentioned this. Our club's  BRAND new Liberty XL2 got bounced down the runway by a solo student. The frame is bent; nose gear is demolished and as you can see, the prop struck... so the engine has to be torn down *sigh*..

I stopped at KMRT, where it happened, on my way back from Urbana in the Cardinal, for fuel.. and took this photo..

[Mobius]

Ugh, not good.

[Omag 2.0]

Man, I'd hate to be responsible for that mistake!   :-/

[TSC.]

Oooooooooouuuch!!

This reply is posted courtesy of TSC's wallet.

[flyboy 28]

Makes you cringe.

[Hagar]

It's a nice-looking aeroplane but that undercart looks a tad dainty for a trainer. Whereabouts is the frame bent?

If that's a wooden prop the engine should be OK.

[Brett_Henderson]

I'd have to agree that the nose-gear seems a little "slight" for a trainer, but according to the AP guy there, it's pretty rugged and can take a significant beating (the plane doesn't weigh much). He said firewall is pushed back a bit. The engine is no doubt "ok", but if the prop strikes the ground at all, the engine has to be torn down and inspected.

[C]

It's a nice-looking aeroplane but that undercart looks a tad dainty for a trainer. Whereabouts is the frame bent?

If that's a wooden prop the engine should be OK.

Unfortunately I don't think the Europa was ever conceived as a trainer, and I doubt that its conversion to the XL2 reinforced it that much, particularly as the original design is based around a single monowheel.

Oh well, he isn't the first and won't be the last - at least you can draw one positive - the nosewheel failed, so will need replacing, which saves someone the nasty shock of it failing on them later on during "normal" flying during take off or landing (I've seen that happen).

[beaky]

A monowheel Europa may have fared better... but students always find a way, eh?  
During my training days at N07 one of my favorite Skyhawks got pranged in similar fashion- the student tore the nosegear strut right off the forward frame wheelbarrowing it after a nasty bounce... required full firewall-forward renovation. Ouch.

Every airplane has its limits...

Too bad- the Liberty is supposed to be a real honey; must hurt to have it off the line.
Looks very fixable, though- she'll be OK.
The hard part will be getting that student back in the saddle... :-/

[Brett_Henderson]

Unfortunately I don't think the Europa was ever conceived as a trainer, and I doubt that its conversion to the XL2 reinforced it that much

Can't argue with that. In a way, it's an odd plane for a club. It doesn't have a useful load allowing for two "normal" (who weighs 170 lol) adults, baggage and full fuel. And even full fuel is well under 20 gallons, so it's not good for long x-country flying. The amount of time it would be rented by a "seasoned" pilot for any type of trip is minimal. The only way for it to earn it's keep in rental service, would be AS a trainer. Go figure ?

[C]

Unfortunately I don't think the Europa was ever conceived as a trainer, and I doubt that its conversion to the XL2 reinforced it that much

Can't argue with that. In a way, it's an odd plane for a club. It doesn't have a useful load allowing for two "normal" (who weighs 170 lol) adults, baggage and full fuel. And even full fuel is well under 20 gallons, so it's not good for long x-country flying. The amount of time it would be rented by a "seasoned" pilot for any type of trip is minimal. The only way for it to earn it's keep in rental service, would be AS a trainer. Go figure ?

I quite agree, which is a shame, as I'm sure it'd be very nice to x-country in...

[Jared]

oops!

[Alonso]

Owwwww  :o  :-/ that can't look good

[Aviatrix]

No the nose gear is not reliable.  There have been 2 "incidents" in FL where the nose gear has sheared off.  Not a very pleasurable experience for the pilot landing as you can imagine. :-?

[beaky]

No the nose gear is not reliable.  There have been 2 "incidents" in FL where the nose gear has sheared off.  Not a very pleasurable experience for the pilot landing as you can imagine. :-?

That'll teach 'em not to land on the nosewheel, or subject it to too much side-loading.  ;D