Well, it finally happened. Damage that need to be repaired.

The story. I've been learning for a couple of months with my Kadet Senior. I'm flying on my own now but still have a lot to learn. The weather has been so cold and there's been so much snow there isn't too many people at the field to help. Anyway, take offs have been easy ... I've been doing some very mild accrobatics and taking it easy. My landings have been okay, but I have something I need to work on. This plane glides forever on landings and I've greased quite a few with no problems, but if there is a cross wind I have some trouble. I end up landing on the runway at an angle and then I'm heading for the edge and trouble. Last Sunday I landed nice and easy but was heading to the edge again and dumbed thumbed and steered right into some pretty drusty snow. The front gear folded back and when I got home and dug into it I found the firewall broken where the nosewheel hooks on. Its a clean break, about 3/4 of an inch square at the bottom of the firewall.

Do I need to replace the entire firewall? It seems very strong above the break where the engine mounts and on the sides, just a hole in the bottom and some of the bottom sheeting has come lose from it. Can I just patch it and add some bracing behind it accross the back of the whole firewall?

Also, I'd like to get all new landing gear for my plane. I've never crashed before but it seems to take a beating. It was bending from the turning I've been doing. As a new guy, I know I don't track that straight all the time on take offs or landings. The back gear aren't like they were new and the front always seemed weak. I was bending from day 1 from turns on the ground.

Any suggestions on better gear? Do I need to watch the height and width? Do you have to be careful of the stance between the front and rear heights?

As usual, you guys have ALL the answers, and I thank you again for the help and info. I took the advice from this forum to get my plane and equiptment and I haven't been dissappointed yet!

Kevin