kent Ashton
Well-Known Member
It's worth discussing this recent crash that killed a low time pilot and his friend. Skip to 2:40
https://youtu.be/aSFxILuEkTQ
These familiar accidents come from not appreciating energy management (among other things). The pilot no doubt expected to start his aerobatic maneuver at say, 200' AGL with speed XXX, do the manueuver, and pull out at about the same altitude and speed. He did not anticipate that an aggressive pullup , wingover, and pullout all produced greater energy loss (induced drag is part) that would require additional energy over 1G level flight. The extra energy would have to be made up by engine thrust, or by losing altitude with the maneuver, or by giving up airspeed.
His little Bellanca engine was was maxed out during the high-speed setup pass and did not have enough time during the maneuver to offset the energy loss so he had to lose altitude and/or airspeed completing the maneuver which he was not mentally prepared to give up. Looking straight down at the ground, he ham-fisted the pullout and spun the airplane.
With little, high-drag, low-powered airplanes, most aerobatic maneuvers are altitude-losing maneuvers. Even practicing them at altitude, as this fellow was said to have done, does not always give an appreciation of energy management. A pilot gets a feel for the pull, the G's, being upside-down, and using the controls but he may not pay much attention to energy state after the maneuver.
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/05/bellanca-7eca-n787mw-fatal-accident.html
https://youtu.be/aSFxILuEkTQ
These familiar accidents come from not appreciating energy management (among other things). The pilot no doubt expected to start his aerobatic maneuver at say, 200' AGL with speed XXX, do the manueuver, and pull out at about the same altitude and speed. He did not anticipate that an aggressive pullup , wingover, and pullout all produced greater energy loss (induced drag is part) that would require additional energy over 1G level flight. The extra energy would have to be made up by engine thrust, or by losing altitude with the maneuver, or by giving up airspeed.
His little Bellanca engine was was maxed out during the high-speed setup pass and did not have enough time during the maneuver to offset the energy loss so he had to lose altitude and/or airspeed completing the maneuver which he was not mentally prepared to give up. Looking straight down at the ground, he ham-fisted the pullout and spun the airplane.
With little, high-drag, low-powered airplanes, most aerobatic maneuvers are altitude-losing maneuvers. Even practicing them at altitude, as this fellow was said to have done, does not always give an appreciation of energy management. A pilot gets a feel for the pull, the G's, being upside-down, and using the controls but he may not pay much attention to energy state after the maneuver.
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/05/bellanca-7eca-n787mw-fatal-accident.html