Steve , no throwing under the bus has ever been done here. As someone who has helped in many investigations in the past we can only go by what is known. We know that there were no apparent electrical problems in the prior two flights but after Cary had been working under the panel is when the accident happened. The only "known" changes from flight 2 to flight 3 are the pilot and the fact that work was done under the panel. This is a cautionary note for mechanics and pilots alike that even if you were under the panel to change and altimeter or something simple, something could have been moved, a wire pulled loose, a screw left to fall on a bus bar, lack of proper wire sizing on installing a new product, when cutting a tie wrap you nick or cut a wire....The list of any problem can go on. This KR did not have a removable top lid so work had to be done upside down and under the panel - a difficult job. I am in the midst of rewiring a panel in a Sonex that will include a Dynon, EIS and Com plus more. While taking it apart I found two loose ground screws (with four ground wires on each) two clipped wires going to nowhere, one intercom wire with connector not attached to anything (and they complained that it didnt work right), improper crimps on many connectors, plugs on the back of EIS not attached with screws, and a "rats nest" appearance to it all. This from a builder who may or may not have been an electrician. To be done correctly one needs to study and practice and many people dont take the time or think "that's good enough". Well, not always. I just am amazed when I hear that I am trying to throw one of my best friends under the bus when I took the risks of first tests flights for him in order to protect him the best I could, and I have done it for many people. The deduction of an electrical failure is just on the facts that we have. The real original failure that lead to the death of Cary was his decision to go outside of the planned testing and put himself in a more precarious situation where his options were minimized. This can happen to any of us. It is something I take very seriously since I do fly many planes. To put this into perspective, how many people rent a 152 or 172 and know anything about the maintenance, how good the A&P is, who the last pilot was and so one but go ahead and fly it. In a sense you are always test flying a rental because you have less control of the maintenance and care of the plane. I go over a plane very carefully when flying for the first time. It is good practice and will extend your life and give you more years of flying...maybe. Sometime you can still do everything right that you know to do and still end up short. I think God has a lot to do with that. We are not always in control, and in reality probably never are.... Bill Clapp - Aeromax Aviation Manager KR2S builder and pilot Valdosta, GA aeromaxaviation.com / billclapp.com
________________________________ From: Stephen Glover <[email protected]> To: KRnet <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 11:00:26 AM Subject: RE: KR> Valdosta crash So was throwing the pilot under the bus for his electrical wiring when the facts had not been released... Whatever the outcome of the investigation is, I think the speculation is more damaging, especially to one's family if they happen to monitor the KR net as opposed to saying something like, "that is terrible, I hope it wasn't something the builder pilot did". That is a little less accusatory of the builder pilot, at least until the facts are out. This stuff can happen to anybody. How would you want people talking about you in that case? Steve Glover Long-EZ N2121U Former KR-2 N902G Corona, CA [email protected] -----Original Message----- You mean other than this was the first official engine installation product of Bill Clapp's new company and he tried to blame the guy flying the plane? Why do you make this remark? I think it is bad manners! _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
