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Wayne; Wow, that really is the first I've heard of that. #1, glad you're okay after both ordeals. Experiences like this need to be shared and I encourage you to submit articles to the type club for publication the rag. Thanks for telling us about them. Al ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Vern:: > My experience with Ercoupes/Aircoupes began quite a few years ago, and I did > have a claim denied based on information originally found by an FAA > inspector acting as a representative of the NTSB. All the information that > was discovered was based on MY purchase as an aircraft owner of an > "aftermarket" metal gascolator bowl with quick drain, from Wag Aero. The > device was not approved for use on an Ercoupe 415-C (which is sold with a > glass bowl) and the fact that the adhesive that held in the quick drain was > soluble in gasoline caused the quick drain to fall out in flight, draining > the header tank in short order, which resulted in an unsuccessful off > airport landing! Wag Aero still sells the part and were not considered at > fault for selling me the part, as they never specified that any parts they > sold were FAA/PMA parts! The mechanic received a $750 fine and was > suspended for 60 days after a long and expensive hearing. He remained my > dear friend and Mechanic until his death 3 years ago. > > After this fiasco I purchased an Alon from a former stunt man in Santa > Monica, CA. It had been parked at the same spot for 14 years, so My friend > and I went over that airplane with a fine tooth comb. I gave the stunt dude > his money and took off over the Santa Monica Mountains headed north toward > Salinas, I found the compass would not point any direction but East, the > radio signal barely got to the end of the antenna, and the VOR searched for > a signal for the entire 300 mile trip home. I was so ecstatic that I didn't > really care, we made it all right! My mechanic (Same one) started looking > my new dreamboat over the next morning and found a little sluggishness in > the control movement. That's when he found that 1 aileron was entirely > filled with Bondo (it weighed 40 pounds) and the other was pretty much > rusted through on the steel control horn mounting bracket. First purchase > new ailerons! > > My point is, even with recent knowledge of judgment errors on my part in > evaluating the airworthiness of a specific airplane, I still missed a Huge > mistake. and it could have caused serious difficulties. Makes a guy think > twice about his decision making abilities! > > Someday I'll tell you what happened to my first Ercoupe that started all > this! > > Wayne Woollard ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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