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After a long build the day was coming close. It would soon be time for the
maiden flight of 919SC, my 2000 Avid Mark IV with Rotax 618,
affectionately known as "Bush Baby". Things were coming together fast now. I installed
the vinyl graphics down the side fo the fuse...she was looking hot! I
performed the fuel flow test, good to go! Engine break-in sweet. Another few
weeks of detail work and there would be nothing keeping me from getting her
into the air...with one exception, I had never flown a Taildragger.
I decided to get some stick time in a rented Citabria. My instructor was a
fellow I had known for quite some time and my transition training went
well...2.8 hours later Don told me I was good to go. I was feeling great, the
world was at my feet and the day was near when my creation and I would be
one. I scheduled the maiden flight for the following weekend. The pride and
excitement I felt was hard to describe. Another "first born" child perhaps?
The day finally came. Perfect. No wind. Yes! Awsome! I was at the airpark
early, before the sun came up. Sliding the hangar doors open... you can
almost smell it. The perfect day for a maiden flight. I rolled Bush Baby out
into the morning air, the sun just beginning to peek over the desert floor
casting long shadows everywhere. Niner-one-niner was ready to go. poised
there on the tarmak. There had never been a more beautiful airplane built by
anyone-ever.
Following the advice from an FAA DAR who I shared hangar space, I put 5
gallons of fuel in the right-hand tank. If I did have a major problem on this
first flight, minimal fuel would be better in the event of a mishap. His
advice sounded logical. I drained all but a quart or so out of the left
tank. After checking over everything-a hundred times...there was no putting it
off. I hopped in, closed the doors and fired her up. She sounded just as
good as she did on any of the multitude of previous taxi tests. Everything
looked good.
I taxied her out to the run-up area. Checks all looked good. I still use
"C-I-G-A-R-S, an old habit. Controls, Instruments, Gas, Attitude, Run-up,
Safety. It was time to go. I taxied out to centerline and without
hesitation, spooled up the big two stroke. The Avid leaped ahead. A little forward
stick and the tail came up. Airspeed was building rapidly. I let her fly
off. Everything felt good, she was climbing out nicely. 50, 100 feet...150.
I'm letting her come up slow, allowing airspeed to build quickly. A moment
or two more and I will ease the stick back and trade a little airspeed
for altitude. The runway is flashing by under me now. Coming up fast, I see
the row of trees, powerlines and the street which cross the runway . At the
very moment I begin to ease the stick back, I realized something was
very wrong. My RPM sagged and the engine was beginning to spudder. Did I feel
it first or hear it...I instantly lowered the nose. What
the heck is wrong? I've lost my engine? Suddenly, the world is in slow
motion. I see everything, I hear everything. crystal clear. I ease the
throttle back...don't let her die! I move the throttle in and out quickly to keep
her running. Now, check for traffic...looking, my head is on a
swivel...sweeping from side to side. How about Airspeed. Airspeed! OK. I'm OK. Can I
set her down? No, not enough room. Keep her running, keep her running! DON"T
TRY TO TURN BACK! My eyes flash over the instrument panel. I'M NOT GOING TO
DIE TODAY! Not enough room to land. My first landing in my own
taildragger! To the right I see the farmhouse. To the left the concrete culverts and
ditches. Keep her straight. The fastest way between two points is a straight
line. Can I clear the trees? I check my altitude...about a huindred feet
or so now. I play with the throttle trying to keep the engine running. I
bump it forward and she spools up a little...I get 4000 rpm, but only
for a second or two. I pull the throttle back and she stabilizes at 3000.
I ease the throttle in again and this time I see 4200, but once again, only
for a second or two before she starts sputtering. I throttle back again
and she stabilizes at 3000 RPM. I think I can clear the trees. Keep playing
with the throttle. In...then out. Back in and then out again. Try to get as
many RPM out of her as you can! The trees are right there and they flash
under me in an instant along wiith the powerlines. The part of the lines
that swoop down in the middle. That's where I crossed.
I'm on the other side of the street now. Over an open field. Sweet! I've
got it made now! And that dirt road that runs along the left side about a
quarter mile away. The road would be better to land on than the rutted up
field, so I stab a little rudder and before long I'm over the road. Hmmm. I'm
good to go now...I can set her down now any time. I'm getting better
managing this throttle, I'm seeing 5200 here and there.
To make a long story short, I made it all the way back to the runway in
this condition. Talk about a nail-biter! I made a close-in downwind in case
my engine quite alltogether and did an "OK" landing. I taxied off the runway
and braked to a stop. The engine quit by itself. I got out of the plane. I
couldn't swallow and my knees were shaking...but I made it back and I
didn't hurt my plane or myself. I found a piece of curled up cellophane tape
inside a 90 degree AN fitting...part of my fuel system. Apparently, the
debree partially clogged the fitting, allowing only a small amount of fuel to
pass thru.
I owe my life to the exceptional training I received from Bob Comperini.
Regards,
Steve Cooper
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