This afternoon I experienced a near-catastrophic equipment failure. I was flying inverted at 3/4 throttle toward the 15 freeway when I tried to pull up elevator in order to make a turn and right the plane at the same time, in other words, half of an outside loop starting from an inverted position,....(I don't know how best to describe it).

When I did, the plane glitched a bit and went toward the ground, recovered, continued upward to vertical and I cut the throttle. As the plane dove, I increased the throttle whilst repeatedly yelling 'NO ELEVATOR' ...and some other words I won't repeat here. This pattern continued briefly across the field toward the forest ...up to vert, cut throttle, dive, increase throttle, up to vert again.

I was able to turn with ailerons and use the throttle to get the plane back safely to find that 5 of my 6 elevator hinges had come out and the elevator was cocked in the full-up position as it relates to the stab, probably due to the remaining hinge working against the control horn. I had to give throttle a few more times before touching the ground in order to keep the plane from nosing in. It went so very smoothly, I could'nt believe how much concentration I was able to muster, ( I have noticed that dead-stick landings are that way too. It's like magic landing-potion to have some kind of failure). I was very impressed with myself for several minutes afterward. Then I realized that I had no planes ready to fly and I was busy for the next few days.

Yes, I did pull on the surfaces and do a range check....for once, (Probably because I felt like people were watching what I was doing today). Apparently, I did not pull hard enough top catch the failing elevator hinges. When I repair it, I will pin the hinges through the balsa and use a bit of epoxy, as well as get an exhaust deflector and aim my muffler away from the wing. I kept it flowing onto the wing so I could monitor the color of the oil. BAD IDEA!

No real question here, just a real confidence-building drill for a newbie. I have used over 5 Gallons in my little .46 XLS (H-9 Super Stick), since the first of the year and it seems to have paid off for me here.

Good save!! Sounds like you had your hands full. What a great hobbie

Good one Agexpert, I hope you haven't started an epidemic. Yesterday i was flying my 3d pattern ship, when it started to perform erratically, yawing drastically to right and left. When i drastically decreased the throttle, it settled down some, but would start again with increase in speed. So the final decision to land came very quickly. It was then i fully realised the rudder was out of order as i had no response to directional control on final, just yawing left to right. Thankfully the ailerons were working and helped in landing in a cross wind of 20mph. The problem was the rudder hinges had failed and the rudder was only held on by the pull pull system. So it was a case of home to the work bench for a major overhaul of the airframe. It had been the 1121 flight of the Excelleron90, so thankfully it lives to fly the next thousand flights.
Bill

Stuck full-up elevator, isn't that the part of the required testing for Jets? I think your ready!

You enjoy that potion age. I have seen a lot of pilots where the only potion they appeared to be on was 190 proof

Hey Grump,

I'll fly jets when YOU fly jets, maybe I can buddy box with ya...on YOUR jet. How many lifetimes from now will that be again? I saw a guy crash 2 jets in one day. He had been flying all week and crashed a total of 4 in 5 days.

Talk about more money than sense.....I thought this hobby was supposed to be fun, not a second mortgage.

Have fun at the field this weekend!!

Side note: I told my instructor about my elevator problem. I think he was a bit proud of this lucky student.....he spent a lot of time helping me out and still does whenever I ask questions, or need a plane maidened or trimmed.

This hobby is great in many ways.

Later,

Mark

Well done!!