Grob Aerospace Chief Testpilot dead
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1
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From: uk
guess work
A highly respectd man and a highly respected company. Let the crash report, which should be due out soon to tell the story. Having some intmate knowledge most of what is stated here, especially so called speeds is guess work! I see they now have # 3 flying.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 376
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From: Grand Com f'Ort
G wrote:
If true, the absence of sufficient, appropriate, adequately crash-protected instrumenting and recording systems on such an aircraft is tantamount to criminal.
Or maybe this was just an ill-informed piece of guesswork?
Fundamentally, though, for Grob...
...I wonder how the order book is looking?
I must add that those who conduct genuine experimental test flying in innovative commercial aircraft designs command my respect; it's a task I would never perceive as worth the risk.
Whilst they are continuing to investigate, it is likely that the cause of the accident may never be known
If true, the absence of sufficient, appropriate, adequately crash-protected instrumenting and recording systems on such an aircraft is tantamount to criminal.
Or maybe this was just an ill-informed piece of guesswork?
Fundamentally, though, for Grob...
...I wonder how the order book is looking?
I must add that those who conduct genuine experimental test flying in innovative commercial aircraft designs command my respect; it's a task I would never perceive as worth the risk.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Wrap up
The formal accident report has been out since the 1 year anniversary of Gerard's death and I concur with their basic findings. The accident aircraft had already been to Vmo with no sign of flutter. Gerard performed the demo routine many times on the 1st prototype G180 and once before in the 2nd prototype which crashed during its second demo. A spotter on the hangar roof saw nothing unusual during the initial run-in for the low pass. He looked away for a couple seconds and the fireball caught his eye. Both elevators hit the ground about 400 meters prior to the main impact zone. At the airpseed and low altitude he was flying, Gerard has about 3 seconds and no chance. The parachute in the photo was Gerard's personal chute that deployed during the ground impact.
None of the flight test data was recoverable and there was no telemetry recording as it was not a test flight. Radar tracking data was very limited and only showed that Gerard was more or less executing the usual downwind leg setting up his first low pass. Because no data exists showing the airspeed at the time of the flutter, there is no way to definitively state that Gerard did or didn't exceed the approved airspeed limit of Vmo. Considering the pad that should have been built into the approved limit and Gerard's skill, it is extremely unlikely that Gerard so grossly exceeded the limits as to be the primary cause of the accident. Considering however that the airplane had previously flown at Vmo with no hint of trouble, it is POSSIBLE that he exceeded Vmo by just a little whereupon the aircraft "went off a cliff."
The cause was clearly flutter but the aircraft structure was unique and of course lost, so the exact flutter mechanism will never be known. From a technical standpoint, the other aircraft are safe because the structures are different and most importantly, because Grob later greatly expanded its capability for flutter modelling & investigation.
None of the flight test data was recoverable and there was no telemetry recording as it was not a test flight. Radar tracking data was very limited and only showed that Gerard was more or less executing the usual downwind leg setting up his first low pass. Because no data exists showing the airspeed at the time of the flutter, there is no way to definitively state that Gerard did or didn't exceed the approved airspeed limit of Vmo. Considering the pad that should have been built into the approved limit and Gerard's skill, it is extremely unlikely that Gerard so grossly exceeded the limits as to be the primary cause of the accident. Considering however that the airplane had previously flown at Vmo with no hint of trouble, it is POSSIBLE that he exceeded Vmo by just a little whereupon the aircraft "went off a cliff."
The cause was clearly flutter but the aircraft structure was unique and of course lost, so the exact flutter mechanism will never be known. From a technical standpoint, the other aircraft are safe because the structures are different and most importantly, because Grob later greatly expanded its capability for flutter modelling & investigation.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
Al,
Firstly, thanks very much for that clear and informed posting.
Secondly, welcome to Pprune, since I see that's your first post. I hope that you'll stick around since I'm sure that many of us would appreciate your views being added to some of the discussions, particularly here within the Flight Test pages.
G
Firstly, thanks very much for that clear and informed posting.
Secondly, welcome to Pprune, since I see that's your first post. I hope that you'll stick around since I'm sure that many of us would appreciate your views being added to some of the discussions, particularly here within the Flight Test pages.
G
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: South West
Grob Insolvency
Further Bad News for Grob
Quote: "08/19/08 - Message from Niall Olver, CEO Grob Aerospace
Effective 18 August 2008, Grob Aerospace GmbH in Germany has been forced to file for insolvency.
This unfortunate situation has arisen as a consequence of recent delays in the spn program, resulting in the increased requirement for cash to see the program through to certification. Under the circumstances, our current loan provider has elected to discontinue their support."
Grob Aerospace: Message from Niall Olver, CEO Grob Aerospace
Good luck guys in recovering this situation.
Keep on fighting ...for Gerards sake at least...
Quote: "08/19/08 - Message from Niall Olver, CEO Grob Aerospace
Effective 18 August 2008, Grob Aerospace GmbH in Germany has been forced to file for insolvency.
This unfortunate situation has arisen as a consequence of recent delays in the spn program, resulting in the increased requirement for cash to see the program through to certification. Under the circumstances, our current loan provider has elected to discontinue their support."
Grob Aerospace: Message from Niall Olver, CEO Grob Aerospace
Good luck guys in recovering this situation.
Keep on fighting ...for Gerards sake at least...
