Belly Landing - Involve the insurance company?

On May 25, 5:40*pm, David wrote:
On May 24, 1:22*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,
..............

Thanks,

--Noel

Noel,

Same exact thing happened to me in my DG300. The fact that the tab
can get in between the rubber and the end of the rod is an unfortunate
byproduct of this design.

I now make sure every time that the tab goes beyond the
end of the rod. The handle should be spring loaded (there is a mod for
that)
so make sure the handle applies touches the sidewall firmly. If it is
pushing against the rubber it will not. So that's an indicator as
well. Try it
and see.

I recommend you have your mechanic check the landing gear gas strut.
Mine needed to be replaced. The gas strut is what keeps the gear over
center in the extended position.

David

My 300 has done this as well, it very important to make sure the
handle is really engaged hard, I was lucky we had come to a halt
before it subsided rather majestically with no damage. Obviously
slipped out at that point.