On May 24, 4:22*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
All -

Would love opinions from anyone who's been through an insurance-
related claim on a glider... *My DG-300's gear collapsed on landing
Saturday. *The down-lock tab squished into the rubber "donut" spacer,
instead of pivoting into place beyond it, and I didn't notice the
difference (it was literally within 1/16th of an inch of being in the
fully locked position). *Left a nice white stripe down the first 75
yards along the centerline of the runway (why did it have to happen at
an asphalt strip, when I fly half the year on grass??). *Photos for
the morbidly curious: *http://picasaweb.google.com/noel.wad...ggearcollapse/

Structurally the ship seems good - banging on the damaged area yields
no flex or cracking, and the DG has a separate seat-pan; but contest
season is about to start for me in late June and I don't want the raw
glass exposed to the elements or sitting prone to further damage.

I lost the gelcoat and 1 or 2 layers of glass in an 8" x 15" area just
in front of the gear. *Gear doors are almost unscathed, but the guard-
ring/back-release on the belly-hook got ground down a bit - I'm sure a
replacement Tost system ain't cheap!

The big question right now is whether I involve the insurance
company. *I've got a loan on the glider, so its fully insured through
Avemco. *If its just glass-work I'd probably just pay out-of-pocket
and be done with it... but throw in potentially a little landing-gear
work and replacing the Tost belly-hook and I'm guessing it'll be a few
thousand $$...

Anyone have experience with filing a claim on aircraft damage with
Avemco or Costello? *How much of an ordeal was it? *How much did your
rates go up? *Any tips?

Thanks,

--Noel

I consider hull insurance as protection from big loss. Your belly work
isn't all that expensive. Get the rest of it looked at and then your
decision will be more obvious. Multiple claims are what raise rates so
best bet is to save it till you really need it.
Costello and supporting folks will treat you well in any case. Tow
releases are in the hundreds, not thousands, but a look at mounting
area will be appropriate.
Sorry for your pain
UH