Would this plane have flown?

My guess is yes - but seriously out of trim for sure. I'd do an empty
trip around the pattern for evaluation. Assuming the handling is
tolerable, load up but keep the speed down.

This is a case where it is really not correct to simply rely on an A&P
mechanic for such a decision. The training they receive doesn't really
include the consequences of aerodynamic variences although their
experience may be very valuable. It really is a situation where the
judgements and experiences of other pilots etc is as valid as any A&P
could give. I definitely don't want to put A&Ps down, but they don't
walk on water - they are only human in their ability to evaluate.

I think....

If YOU are going to fly it, I'll bet $10 you'd have no problems.

Buuuuuuuut, I'M not going to try! ;)

Robert

You didn't give much data but I probably would have flown the bird
home.

A bird will fly with one aileron fine if you are careful and fuel is
balanced for takeoff and landing.

I have flown some of my model airplanes with one aileron and they do
fine. One racer I built, only put one aileron on it to reduce drag
from aileron movement and pick up a few mph.

Also flew an 0-1 home in VN (100+ miles) with half the horizontal stab
and elevator cut off and duct taped due to damage caused by wind
blowing the parked bird (one of my FAC's parked not me) into a 55
gallon drum used as part of a revetment.

Also with half the lateral control surface on your bird (and me
aboard) I would have been careful and only made shallow banks and a
long flat approach. I also would have not pulled bird off but
accelerated to plenty of airspeed on take off.

Enough said. Mark me in the column as flying home.

Big John
``````````````````````````````````````````


On 21 Mar 2006 16:02:44 -0800, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

http://www.thegaryhouse.com/aircraftdamage/

I was down in a remote area of Mexico this last weekend and a truck
backed into my aileron. I was lucky that the driver had a sat phone and
I was able to call an A&P to come down to Mexico and swap it for me.
However, all the local pilots, and the A&P who came down seemed to
think it would have flown ok as was. From a simply academic point of
view I"m curious what you guys think.

-Robert

("Big John" wrote)
[snip]
Enough said. Mark me in the column as flying home.


Would you have removed the damaged aileron before flight?


Montblack

Montblack

Nope.

1. Couldn't see any popped rivets in photo's.
2. Gap between aileron and wing was equal full length of aileron in
photo's.
3. I'd have got in cockpit and ran ailerons full right and left to
feel for any drag.
4. Then would have taken a hammer and stone or block of wood and taken
most of the 'curl' out of aileron.
5. Got in and fired up and landed next in the States to clear customs.
7. Then flew to home base to get repaired.

As I said prior. I would not have tried to do rolls and loops on way
home but birds have a lot of strength beyond plackard limits so lots
of safety built in even damaged birds.

And a good day to you and all.

Big John
`````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:13:51 -0600, "Montblack"
wrote:

("Big John" wrote)
[snip]
Enough said. Mark me in the column as flying home.


Would you have removed the damaged aileron before flight?


Montblack

"Big John" wrote in message
...
Montblack

Nope.

1. Couldn't see any popped rivets in photo's.
2. Gap between aileron and wing was equal full length of aileron in
photo's.
3. I'd have got in cockpit and ran ailerons full right and left to
feel for any drag.
4. Then would have taken a hammer and stone or block of wood and taken
most of the 'curl' out of aileron.
5. Got in and fired up and landed next in the States to clear customs.
7. Then flew to home base to get repaired.

As I said prior. I would not have tried to do rolls and loops on way
home but birds have a lot of strength beyond plackard limits so lots
of safety built in even damaged birds.

And a good day to you and all.

Big John
`````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````


I am seeing what some A&P sign off as airworthy enough for a ferry permit!!
Wow!

Steven L. Rhine
CP ASEL & AMEL Instrument Airplane
CFI (Student)

My primary concern would be flutter, and then insurance coverage of the 'field repair' or flying it without a ferry
permit....


"Big John" wrote in message ...
Montblack

Nope.

1. Couldn't see any popped rivets in photo's.
2. Gap between aileron and wing was equal full length of aileron in
photo's.
3. I'd have got in cockpit and ran ailerons full right and left to
feel for any drag.
4. Then would have taken a hammer and stone or block of wood and taken
most of the 'curl' out of aileron.
5. Got in and fired up and landed next in the States to clear customs.
7. Then flew to home base to get repaired.

As I said prior. I would not have tried to do rolls and loops on way
home but birds have a lot of strength beyond plackard limits so lots
of safety built in even damaged birds.

And a good day to you and all.

Big John
`````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:13:51 -0600, "Montblack"
wrote:

("Big John" wrote)
[snip]
Enough said. Mark me in the column as flying home.


Would you have removed the damaged aileron before flight?


Montblack

Blueskies

I would not expect flutter from the curl. It should just load the
control system worst case.

On the possibility of flutter, I'd just slow down and fly at a slower
air speed below the flutter range. In my Mooney I'd probably cruise at
100-110 mph vs the normal 140-160 mph if I experienced any flutter.

I'm not faulting what the pilot did. If he was not comfortable with
what I'm saying I'd do then his actions were excellent for him (and he
got the bird and himself home safely).

If in doubt, is pays to be doubly safe rather than sticking your neck
out.

Big John
``````````````````````````````````````````

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:24:05 GMT, ".Blueskies."
wrote:

My primary concern would be flutter, and then insurance coverage of the 'field repair' or flying it without a ferry
permit....


"Big John" wrote in message ...
Montblack

Nope.

1. Couldn't see any popped rivets in photo's.
2. Gap between aileron and wing was equal full length of aileron in
photo's.
3. I'd have got in cockpit and ran ailerons full right and left to
feel for any drag.
4. Then would have taken a hammer and stone or block of wood and taken
most of the 'curl' out of aileron.
5. Got in and fired up and landed next in the States to clear customs.
7. Then flew to home base to get repaired.

As I said prior. I would not have tried to do rolls and loops on way
home but birds have a lot of strength beyond plackard limits so lots
of safety built in even damaged birds.

And a good day to you and all.

Big John
`````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:13:51 -0600, "Montblack"
wrote:

("Big John" wrote)
[snip]
Enough said. Mark me in the column as flying home.


Would you have removed the damaged aileron before flight?


Montblack

Robert M. Gary wrote:
http://www.thegaryhouse.com/aircraftdamage/

I was down in a remote area of Mexico this last weekend and a truck
backed into my aileron. I was lucky that the driver had a sat phone and
I was able to call an A&P to come down to Mexico and swap it for me.
However, all the local pilots, and the A&P who came down seemed to
think it would have flown ok as was. From a simply academic point of
view I"m curious what you guys think.

-Robert

Robert,
It would have flown, poorly. You would have had to hold right aileron to
keep it strait. High speed characteristics would be un-known.

You did the right thing getting replaced.

Michelle (A&P)

Your alive so you must of made the right decision.
Who cares if it would of flown. You were able to fix it before you flew it.
Good job.
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
http://www.thegaryhouse.com/aircraftdamage/

I was down in a remote area of Mexico this last weekend and a truck
backed into my aileron. I was lucky that the driver had a sat phone and
I was able to call an A&P to come down to Mexico and swap it for me.
However, all the local pilots, and the A&P who came down seemed to
think it would have flown ok as was. From a simply academic point of
view I"m curious what you guys think.

-Robert