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[email protected] clare@snyder.on.ca is offline
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Default Fwd: Reno Air Race - Probable conclusion to fatal crash

On Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:48:33 -0500, Richard
wrote:

On 9/20/2011 8:11 PM, Artemus wrote:


Subject: Two Questions
We have all seen the pictures of this tragedy at Reno, but I have two questions.

1. Would losing the trim tab on one side of the elevator really cause this type of
loss of control?


Yes.

As an airplane travels faster the wing makes more lift.
To keep from climbing the nose is pushed down.

While the trim tab looks tiny compared to the rest of the aircraft, it
is really all that is holding the nose down.

Trailing edge of the tab would be up which forces the trailing edge of
the elevator down, thus pushing the the nose down.

Sudden loss of that tab means a sudden nose up - and at those speeds
if would be exceptionally violent pitch up.


2. Why is the tail wheel extended in this photo, on a plane where everything is done
to reduce drag and increase speed?


The up lock broke - due to the violent pitch up.

The plane hit 15 G's before impact. That makes the pilot's head
weigh something in excess of 400 lbs, which could very well have
instantly fractured the pilot's neck.