Replica Spitfire accident at Watts Bridge 29/8/15
Similar Problem?
This happened about 18 months ago at Parafield:
http://https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-051.aspx
http://https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-051.aspx
Last edited by Jungmeister; 30th Aug 2015 at 22:56. Reason: link
Re my comment, I realise that left aileron is being applied, it's just the ailerons don't appear to move much it seems... Probably typical for a high speed aircraft.
Top screen shot - is that RIGHT rudder input (note the position of the balance horn)?
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The evidence presented in the two photos show right rudder and left aileron being applied.The ailerons would not have been very effective due to the low speed. This leads to auto rotation, where applying left aileron causes a roll to the right. This was the method used to spin DHC1 Chipmunks. The photos show that it was past recovering and the pilot did the right thing in closing the throttle.
Yeah makes all the training to keep one's hand on the throttle during takeoff come into perspective. A half second delay in the chop might have meant the chop for some poor folks on the sideline.
I think the left aileron would have been a lot more effective if the right rudder had not been applied! I doubt the pilot was aware of what was happening with the rudder in the brief moment he had to try and comprehend why it wasn't responding to left control column input.
I cant make it out from the video but could it be that being an auto conversion with a PSRU the prop turns the opposite direction to a lycoming/continential. I wonder how familiar the pilot was with the aircraft.
Or a control lock still in place?
Or just low performance pilot in high performance aircraft?
Or a control lock still in place?
Or just low performance pilot in high performance aircraft?
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not that I'm any expert with Spitfires (far from it!) but every time I've seen them take off, they accelerate to level attitude ie tail wheel well off the ground and then lift off. Looks like he let it get off the ground too early, too slow, tail wheel still on the ground hence high nose attitude and lost it. Did well to recognise a bad situation and pull the pin before it got a whole lot worse.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Age: 51
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's blurry, and you only get a brief look.
Take a look at the video Pseudonym posted on Page one. You have a 1 second window to look at the back view, almost square on before the video goes blurry again.
Revising my thoughts on the initial video....not quite convinced, but all the same.
Take a look at the video Pseudonym posted on Page one. You have a 1 second window to look at the back view, almost square on before the video goes blurry again.
Revising my thoughts on the initial video....not quite convinced, but all the same.
jas24zzk I'm intrigued as to what you see in that section of the video - I've had another look and the flap (s) may be drooping slightly in the rear view - frankly though, I suspect my own flaps and a few other bits would be drooping a little after a bang like that 
, so I'm not sure you can read too much into it.
, so I'm not sure you can read too much into it.
I know nothing about this aircraft. Is it a real Spitfire or some sort of pretend Spitfire?
If real or close to, is torque roll likely to be an issue? The right wing going down suggests the possibility.
Dr
If real or close to, is torque roll likely to be an issue? The right wing going down suggests the possibility.
Dr
One of the 80% scale, home brewed ones. Not sure about this one, but the normal powerplant is an Isuzu V6 allegedly good for a bit over 300 gee gees. Not too bad for 800kg odd, but well short of Messrs Rolls and Royce's effort.
