AC5 M safety?

The BGA test pilot chose (rightly) to parachute out of the still flying
AC4 turbo (not self launching) after hearing a noise following the
'Vne' part of the test flight. Subsequently it was found to be an
airbrake issue that made the noise for which an AD was released
and additionally the VNE was lowered to 87 knots (if I remember
correctly). There was some discussion at the time that the ASI
might have been reading incorrectly due to the change of position
of the pitot for the turbo version? For what it's worth I am a huge
fan of the AC4 as a light weight soaring glider, not sure I would
personally be happy with one with a vibration creating engine
however, but many people have been very happy.

Chris


At 18:36 21 January 2014, Luke Szczepaniak wrote:
On 01/21/2014 12:55 PM, Kevin Neave wrote:
AC5M broke up during flight testing for BGA CofA in the UK.

Interesting, is there a write up of the event? "broke up" is rather
broad...

Cheers,
Luke Szczepaniak

I agree with Chris Davison regarding the AC4. Our club owned one for about 9 years and I flew it for about 100 hours. It is wonderful little glider and I loved flying it, but it is rather delicate and does not do well in a club atmosphere. Ours got banged up in off field landings and a couple of ground loops. Understanding the construction and light weight, like Chris Davison, I'd be worried about motor induced vibration too. However, it still a great little glider and I believe there are over 40 flying in the US.

Chuck Zabinski