Ed - I might add a caution to not approach Vne in any airplane, not just antiques or classics.
A mid to high time 172, 152, or Cherokee variant in a rental fleet may actually pose more hazards of worn and out of tolerance items that would a 2500 hour classic, if the classic has had good maintenance or a recent and proper restoration. Like all other limits, Vne presumes a like new airplane, with all parts and components in the condition they were when the airplane rolled out of the factory. In fact, in my law practice, I see very few serious or fatal accidents involving classics. I have one such case presently, but it's been a coon's age since the last one. Of course, there are fewer classics flying, but even given that, the real gremlin is wear, and a 10 year old 172 that flies 600 hours a year in a busy flight school can be a worn out and tired puppy, unless the maintenance has been first class. Jerry E. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of Ed Burkhead Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 1:09 PM To: 'heavensounds'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Sebring crash, NTSB preliminary report Eliacim suggests: > High altitude and a few mph short of Vne? > Probably you were exceeding Vne! > Remember that altitude will make TAS higher than IAS. > Perhaps you could recall altitude and temperature that day > and estimate what was your TAS? Very good thinking, Eliacim. I think you are right. It was early fall, on the way back from the Great Little Chicken Ranch Picnic and Flyin at Leonard Pages place and I was over northern Missouri. Im guessing the ground temperature was around 68° and I was passing through something like 7,000-9,000 or so when I did this. My indicated airspeed was up to about 135 138 mph or so when it started so my true airspeed was probably over Vne. My recommendation holds. 1.. Check your control system for integrity and tightness 2.. Dont approach Vne in antique airplanes. and add one more: 3.. Take altitude and temp into account when figuring true airspeed Ed
