It's been a few days since my ground loop incident, and I've had time to reflect on several things that In the interest of "lessons learned" I will add to my before takeoff checklist. Here is how I think I screwed up: I checked the AWOS at start-up as it's normal prior to taxing out to the ramp. I called ground and made the request for the option of a high-speed test, or a full takeoff and I finished my transmission with the phrase "with information Alpha". The tower cleared me to taxi to runway 36 via Alpha to the run-up and wait. They had several airplanes in the pattern and a jet on a long final. By the time I was allowed to get on the runway, a good 15 minutes or so had elapsed. I was there so long that I actually shut my engine off. I listened on my handheld for my clearance. In the span of those 15+ minutes or so, the winds had increased, and now more like a 90 deg crosswind gusting to 23kts from a milder 12kts. The only clue of higher winds was the airplane rocking once in a while, but I attributed that to two Citation Jets that were taking off and landing. At one time I tried to make an effort to look for the windsock but from my nose high position and where the nose was pointing, I could not see the windsock. Lesson learned: I edited my checklist to make it mandatory to recheck AWOS at run-up before to switching to the tower. This will assure me that I will be fully aware of my flight conditions prior to takeoff. Luis. On Monday, September 9, 2024 at 09:56:37 AM CDT, Ray_pilot <n24...@gmail.com> wrote: Also glad you are ok and hopefully did not hurt the plane. I had ground looped a friend of mine's plane a year or so ago and definitely scared the _____ out of myself.But there was no damage and it turned out to be a control issue (only partially me). So, as the tower said, "no harm no foul". And because of this stupid weather - really? hitting the only time I need clear skies to be?Looks as if I am going to come to Mount Vernon in a Dodge truck. Bit of a bummer, but I made the decision to come.and I am not changing my mind. See ya'll there. Ray_pilot New Orleans
On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 1:20 AM Luis Claudio via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org> wrote: Well, it was bound to happen... this past Saturday, the weather cleared enough for me to try another flight around the pattern, and so I kick the tires and lit the fires, and off I went... AWOS reported a crosswind from the West at about 12 to 14kts. We were using runway 36 to the North. I felt that 14kts was about my personal limit. I was still learning to fly my airplane and did not want to push it. Everything was going great, as I lined up and accelerated down the runway for takeoff. At about 35kts, I started lifting the tail, made a small correction to the left to counter the wind effect to my right, when I was hammered by what I thought was a blown tire... I was tossed in the cockpit hurting my hip, and the airplane swerved sharply to the left... I managed to recover back towards the center of the runway, just as I was hit again. the second gust was much more severe. I made two full circles but managed to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane came to a stop shortly still on the runway and I taxied it off to the ramp. I called the tower to see if I had a violation or anything and they just told me to have a good life... no harm no foul. I later found that since my last weather inquiry on the AWOS, the wind gust had increased to 23kts which were way beyond my level of crosswind comfort. I called John Shaffer and talked to him a little just to calm myself. He then reminded me as to why he flies a nosewheel airplane... My airplane now sits in my hanger till i have a chance to do a thorough inspection. My hip hurts like crap and I hope I can recover enough to make it to Mount Vernon. Luis -- KRnet mailing list KRnet@list.krnet.org https://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet
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