PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Accident at Old Warden today.Seafire mishap.
Old 7th Jul 2011, 09:43
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'Chuffer' Dandridge
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
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It's a no-brainer.. If ANY prop strike takes place, especially in a geared engine such as a RR Griffon, an inspection, and strip if necessary is mandatory! Grass or hard, wooden blades or not, especially those that have broken at the root, the strongest part of the blade!

I suspect there was a significant amount of power going through the engine and gearbox. Just imagine stopping the weight of that prop assembly and what happens when that sudden stop is transmitted back down through the gearbox and the crankshaft..... A recent, fairly minor prop strike on a similar warbird resulted in a replacement crankcase..

Those who have suggested on other forums that the damage is minimal, and "why can't they just put a new prop on it, lower the gear and fly it home", should see how much it's going to cost to repair it!

Aeroplanes can be fixed at a cost, but pilots can't.
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