L33 "tender tail"

(Dave Rolland) wrote:

I understand that there was a long thread on this subject some time
ago. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate it. If someone could
send me a link that would be greatly appreciated.

In any case, I'm looking for information on real incidents/accidents
that have cause damage to the tail boom on L33s. I've heard lots of
suggestions of what "may" cause damage but few "real" examples.

Two theoretical scenarios that have been mentioned are ground loops
and hard, tail first landing. If you've had experience with either of
these I'm very interested in any information you can provide,
regardless of whether or not damage was sustain. If damage was
sustained, was the boom section repaired - I don't know if this is
even possible - or replaced? If so, how expensive was the repair?

Finally, I've heard it suggested that the L33 is susceptible to ground
loops. I'm not sure if this stems from the fear of possibly damaging
the tail or something inherent in the design?

Thanks in advance,
Dave Rolland


I saw the aftermath of one incident that in just about any other
glider would have been a minor annoyance, but totaled the L-33.

The glider landed short of a grass runway. It initially touched down
on the road perpendicular to the field. It was a very low energy
landing. It next touched down in the shallow ditch next to the road,
its main wheel on the up slope of the ditch, its tail wheel on the
down slope of the ditch. The plane was found to have about 25 to 30
"crinkles" in the tail boom, aft of the main wings, forward of the
vertical stabilizer. The insurance company chose to total the
aircraft since it would be too expensive to repair.

Joe wrote in message ...
(Dave Rolland) wrote:

I understand that there was a long thread on this subject some time
ago. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate it. If someone could
send me a link that would be greatly appreciated.

In any case, I'm looking for information on real incidents/accidents
that have cause damage to the tail boom on L33s. I've heard lots of
suggestions of what "may" cause damage but few "real" examples.

Two theoretical scenarios that have been mentioned are ground loops
and hard, tail first landing. If you've had experience with either of
these I'm very interested in any information you can provide,
regardless of whether or not damage was sustain. If damage was
sustained, was the boom section repaired - I don't know if this is
even possible - or replaced? If so, how expensive was the repair?

Finally, I've heard it suggested that the L33 is susceptible to ground
loops. I'm not sure if this stems from the fear of possibly damaging
the tail or something inherent in the design?

Thanks in advance,
Dave Rolland


I saw the aftermath of one incident that in just about any other
glider would have been a minor annoyance, but totaled the L-33.

The glider landed short of a grass runway. It initially touched down
on the road perpendicular to the field. It was a very low energy
landing. It next touched down in the shallow ditch next to the road,
its main wheel on the up slope of the ditch, its tail wheel on the
down slope of the ditch. The plane was found to have about 25 to 30
"crinkles" in the tail boom, aft of the main wings, forward of the
vertical stabilizer. The insurance company chose to total the
aircraft since it would be too expensive to repair.
Saw something very similar in the UK, though it was repaired and only had a
half-dozen or so 'warps' in the upper boom. IIRC, caused by landing short
of runway edge.

Frank