Terrible crash at Reno Air Races

[mhsmith57]

Are you a pilot? What is your education in aviation? Experience flying, etc? The whole horizontal stabilizer is "lift", the trim tab is used for trimming flight controls to take excess force off the control stick or wheel. Stay with something you know like diesel trucks.

Mark

 

[AH64ID]

Actually yes I am a military trained pilot, and currently a maintenance test pilot. I have a good knowledge of lift and aerodynamics.

Apparently you think you know something about aerodynamics, but can't quite grasp the full concept of lift, or lack there of. .

If you change the shape of the wing you change the lift, simple right? The faster you are going the smaller the change has to be to make a large change in the aerodynamic forces. A frozen trim tab is very different than a missing one, especially when the piece goes missing at 450 KTS. You could quite easily take off and and fly with a missing one as the missing tab would have little effect at rotation and thru acceleration.

When the trim tab fell off it effected the lift of the elevator, that sudden change in lift coupled with a non-hydraulic flight control system, would back drive the controls and would very easily be able to rip the stick from the pilots hand. The elevator has then gone to its stops and the roll that ensued leaves us with catastrophic results.

The wings and ailerons of the Galloping Ghost where shortened this summer (5' and 28" respectively) this would make the recovery from the sudden pitch and roll change slower, especially if the pilot was experiencing excessive G's.

 

[Tractorat]

I used to hear that the P-51, because of power etc, was a tempermental aircraft. The engine had so much torque, that a lot of private pilots crashed them early on because goosing the engine just flipped them right over. So, any change in aerodynamics could have caused this.



On the other hand, the P-51 was a combat aircraft and probably sustained much worse damage than a missing trim tab in combat, and returned to base.



But then, on the other hand, this plane had been modified for racing. So, who knows what loosing a trim tab might have done to the controls.

 

[AH64ID]

I used to hear that the P-51, because of power etc, was a tempermental aircraft. The engine had so much torque, that a lot of private pilots crashed them early on because goosing the engine just flipped them right over. So, any change in aerodynamics could have caused this.



On the other hand, the P-51 was a combat aircraft and probably sustained much worse damage than a missing trim tab in combat, and returned to base.



But then, on the other hand, this plane had been modified for racing. So, who knows what loosing a trim tab might have done to the controls.

At a recent local AAAA meeting we had a WWII P-38/P-51 pilot come and talk to us (talk about an amazing guest speaker, but thats another story). He talked about the difference and exactly like you said it was a very temperamental aircraft in original condition.



Like you pointed out the racing modifications and speeds removed any room for error and required a very skilled pilot. Wartime battle damage would have occurred at lower speeds and most likely higher altitudes both of which increase the safety margin.

 

[Chief USA]

There is an article circulating that brings up a theory that the pilot's seat linkage latch became unlatched, causing the pilot to loose control.



Reno air crash 2011: Pilot's chair may have broken moments before impact | Mail Online



Photo Suggests Pilot In Deadly Reno Air Crash Had Broken Seat, Aviation Mechanic Says | Fox News



LiveLeak.com - Reno air race crash: Did pilot's seat break?



This sounds much more plausible in view of the circumstances, especially after seeing that the tail landing gear was deployed. This would HIGHLY unusual in an air race like this.



In a previous life I was a military aviator in the same line of business as AH64ID and one of the very first things we ALWAYS checked on the pilot's preflight and check list was the pilot's seat and seat back locks..... that they were in the upright and FULLY latched postion. A pilot's seat coming loose or a seat back falling flat during flight would catastrophic especially in NOE flight.

 

[AH64ID]

I hadn't heard the seat idea yet. All the reasons I have read about no visible pilot have to do with the G-Forces causing him to black out and slump over.

I don't tend to believe in coincidences in events like this. The missing trim tab is not just there, it has to be involved. Lets suppose it was just a coincidence, and had zero to do with the crash. There is no way the pilot would not have noticed the missing trim tab, its effects when not there are not small. He would have realized there was something wrong with the flight control (thou may not have known what) and would have made a safety call and landed the plane prior to any incident.

 

[mwilson]

Are you a pilot? What is your education in aviation? Experience flying, etc? The whole horizontal stabilizer is "lift", the trim tab is used for trimming flight controls to take excess force off the control stick or wheel. Stay with something you know like diesel trucks.

Mark

Almost looks like an apology might be in order after reading the next few posts after the above statement... ... ... .



It would appear that he (AH64ID) knows quite a bit about Diesel Trucks AND Aircraft..... :-laf



I'm just sayin'



Mike.

 

[Tractorat]

BTW, I said that I had heard the P-51 was tempermental. I meant to use a more technical term. "squirrely"

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

ALL airplanes have a trim system for elevation of some kind. Bob Hannah had the trim tab come off his P51 race plane in Reno - a young VERY fit pilot. He blacked out and woke up at 9,000 ft:

Voodoo - 98 NCAR

Apparently, the left elevator trim tab came off the airplane at speed, causing the bird to abruptly pitch up, subjecting driver Hannah to over 10 G's of deceleration forces, and causing him to lose conciousness! When he came to, the raceplane had climbed to over 9,000 feet of altitude. A shaken Hannah regained control and brought Voodoo in for a safe landing. Suspected structural damage kept the sleek raceplane out of Sunday's championship competition.

A severely out of trim airplane can be very violent - as it would be if a trim tab left the airplane. I had an instructor that liked to put the play WAY out of trim in unusual attitude training when my eyes would be closed and looking down (with a hood on) and then I'd look up and have to recover from whatever attitude he put me in. In a Piper Saratoga one time he had it trimmed full nose up and I had to use nearly all the strength I had to force the yoke forward. He had also pulled the circuit breaker on the electric trim adjust so I had to take one hand off the wheel to manually adjust the trim wheel and it was VERY tough to do - and that's on a plane that doesn't have nearly the different in air speed between stall and max as a P51. Whatever comes out of the investigation I am sure that the missing trim tab will play a significant role.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Until a thorough investigation has been completed it would only be speculation as to the cause of this tragedy. Today's news media doesn't seem to use real "experts" in their reporting and make wild assumptions through their hired "talking heads"; in this case that the little trim tab caused the loss of control resulting in a failure to maintain, Gregg's favorite friend, altitude. It may affect control to some hefty degree, but the pilot should be able to overcome the change in flight characteristics with some added muscle on the stick. This is not a case similar to the fate of Alaska Airlines flight 261 where the entire horizontal stabilizer went to the extreme limit due to a stripped jack-screw. Alaska Air Flight 261 crash: What is a horizontal stabilizer? Are there previous crashes caused by stabilizer malfunctions?
So I will side with Mark on this one; the P-51 has a fixed horizontal stabilizer; the tab is used to relieve stress on the pilot due to flight characteristics. All indications point to a catastrophic failure in the pitch circuit, i. e. , cable, tubes, pulleys, etc.

This article written by Al Neuhauser points to a more plausible cause, yet is still speculation at this time. The Crash of the Galloping Ghost - Living Lake Country

It does give some credence to the theory of a broken seat or seat mount, where the pilot would have been thrown backward and thus pulled back on the stick, overstressing the elevator circuit.

Eagle's Eye
<!-- end of blog_headline_wrap -->
<!-- end of blog_header_default --><!-- end class="blog_header_wrap" -->The Crash of the Galloping Ghost

By Al Neuhauser
Sept. 19, 2011
In the news lately has been fairly extensive coverage of the tragic crash of an unlimited racer at the Reno Air Races. The crash killed several spectators and sent many to the hospital. I am always amazed at the incompetence of news reports concerning aircraft accidents. While there is no shortage of knowledgeable authorities on aviation, reporters seem to never avail themselves of this resource and persist in publishing ignorant reports of accidents. This is an attempt to correct some of the misinformation, misconceptions and clueless comments concerning this accident.
My qualifications for this critique are an 11-year Air Force career, 4 years active duty as a jet fighter pilot and 8 years in the Reserves flying C-130 tactical transports. I have maintained a strong interest in aviation and am a long-time member of the Air Force Association. I am also an engineer with a background and continuing interest in avionics and aviation. When it comes to flying, I think I know what I am talking about.
Something about the Reno Air Races. These are long-standing competitions going back at least 30 years, the only unlimited-class races left in the country. While there are other air races, the unlimited class, which is the premier event, features essentially any propeller-driven aircraft regardless of power and speed. It is dominated by modified World War II fighter planes, mostly P-51 Mustangs and F8-F Bearcats, with an occasional P-47 Thunderbolt. These planes are souped up and reach speeds in excess of 500 MPH around a closed pylon course. Practically any modification compatible with safety is permitted.
The races take place on a former Air Force base to the west of Reno in a town called Stead. The base configuration allows close spectator viewing on the former aircraft parking ramp. The closest spectator bleachers are reserved for VIP's. This may be unwise, but the safety record of the Reno Air Races is excellent. This is the first incident in my recollection where spectators were injured.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a heavily-modified P-51 Mustang named Galloping Ghost. It has competed for years and once dominated the race. The last few years it has not won. The owner and pilot, 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward, has competed in air races, especially Reno, for many years. Stung by the defeat of Galloping Ghost, mainly by a Bearcat, Leeward had reworked Ghost, upgraded the power and made some structural changes to reduce drag. He had high hopes of retaking the unlimited crown this year. Leeward was highly respected in the racing fraternity and a very active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association of Oshkosh fame.
#ad

Fairly early in the race, Ghost was doing well but suddenly, just after passing the VIP bleachers, pitched straight upward, stalled (lost flying speed), nosed over into a dive and plowed nearly vertically into the concrete ramp near the bleachers. The aircraft completely disintegrated, hittiing the ground at a speed probably well over 200 MPH, creating a large crater. The explosion and debris reached the stands and caused extensive injuries to the VIP spectators. Leeward was of course killed.
Media speculation has centered on an observed small part of the plane that fell off during the vertical ascent. The guess is it was an elevator trim tab. Media reports have described it as a "piece of the tail that helps the aircraft maintain lift. " This is flat wrong. Anyway, it reportedly broke off after the P-51 pitched up so could not have been the cause.
Now we have to talk about aerodynamics--how an airplane works. This will refer to the type of vintage aircraft involved, not more modern planes. There are three control surfaces on a plane that control its movement in the air: ailerons, elevator(s) and rudder (vertical stabilizer). The ailerons are small panels at the trailing (back) edge of the wings, one on each side. They move up and down in response to cockpit control ("joystick") movement in opposition: one moves up and the other swings down a like amount. This controls the aircraft's roll motion and is the primary factor in turns. (No, it's not the rudder. )
At the rear of the plane are horizontal and vertical surfaces that form the tail, the horizontal and vertical stabilizers ("rudder"). At the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer is a panel, sometimes split in two halves on either side of the rudder, that moves up and down in response to joystick movement to control the pitch of the aircraft, causing it to climb or descend. Elevator upward movement creates a downward force on the tail, causing the aircraft to nose up.
The rudder is not a primary control surface; its purpose is to "coordinate" turns and correct for engine torque. Simply, it keeps the aircraft turning smoothly and evenly. (Certain landing procedures use the rudder to twist the aircraft horizontally, called a "skid" or "slip". This is not pertinent here. )
Now to the famous trim tab. As aircraft speed increases or decreases, the air pressures on the control surfaces vary. This tends to push them up or down, requiring the pilot of counteract this pressure with the controls. This would require constant force on the joystick during flight, which can be fatiguing and is not conducive to precise aircraft control. So, at the trailing edge of each of the control surfaces is a very small panel that can be adjusted up or down from the cockpit, usually by a 4-way switch on the top of the joystick. By adjusting these tabs--usually electrically--the control forces can be neutralized. These tabs do not in any way contribute to lift or primary aircraft control. There is no way the loss of a trim tab would have caused this accident. Pilot Leeward would have easily counteracted any control pressures resulting from such an incident.
So, what do I think happened? Realize this is pure speculation, albeit not completely in the dark. The NTSB will take a year to analyze this and probably come up with some unlikely scenario indicting the FAA. (That's another story. ) Galloping Ghost went completely out of control beyond the ability of an experienced pilot to cope. The only failure that would cause the aircraft to pitch straight up would be a failure of the elevator system. Leeward lost complete control of the aircraft, although it did appear near the end he made some attempt to pull out. If so, I have no idea how he did this.
I believe the elevator control surface suddenly slammed full up, which would have pitched the aircraft violently upward. Originally, most WW II aircraft control surfaces were actuated by steel cables. If an elevator cable broke under the pressures of extreme high-speed maneuvering, that could have caused the problem. It is not unlikely, however, that Leeward had modified Ghost with modern hydraulic actuators, which opens up the possibility of a hydraulic valve failure. A broken elevator hinge might also be a possibility, but the pitch-up seemed too smooth for that. Bottom line: elevator failure causing a full nose-up maneuver uncontrollable by the pilot. What part specifically broke is impossible to pin down.
Leeward had made some modifications to the control surfaces as part of his attempt to reduce drag and obtain increased speed. He reportedly made them smaller. This could have caused increased stress during the race, but personally I think that is unlikely. I suspect the NTSB will not agree.
The saddest thing would be to dishonor Jimmy Leeward's legacy by cancelling the Reno Air Races. However, I'm afraid that is exactly what will happen as a result of a tragic accident caused by a mechanical failure.
Sometimes I think we try to be too safe.

Many long hours of flight control bubble gum and speed tape repairs - slower aircraft. SEA and other "fun" places.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Then there is Steve's reference to Voodoo Chile which lost the left tab at speed. (Hmmm... a little Jimi Hendrix influence in the name???). Similarities abound. So it may very well have a relevance at speed.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Only those that have slammed a high performance prop / turbine aircraft into a radical bank and pulled hard will understand the importance of trim control. There is speculation that Leewards’ snap climb may have put him into immediate G-LOC… and coupling that with his age and probable inability to quickly recover resulted in UFIT.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Only those that have slammed a high performance prop / turbine aircraft into a radical bank and pulled hard will understand the importance of trim control. There is speculation that Leewards’ snap climb may have put him into immediate G-LOC… and coupling that with his age and probable inability to quickly recover resulted in UFIT.

Gregg,

Agree 100%. Lumbering along, stable flight in fair weather, sunny skies and no birds - probably not much of an issue. But pushing the flight envelope definitely changes the whole picture.

 

[Dl5treez]

It's very, very sad... . but preventable.

That seating area wasn't there when I attended in the late 90's. The only folks that close to the racing line during an event were in the pits, or official personnel types.

 

[Chief USA]

It's very, very sad... . but preventable.



That seating area wasn't there when I attended in the late 90's. The only folks that close to the racing line during an event were in the pits, or official personnel types.

In theory, we are supposed to live in a free society. Many things in life that are exciting and thrilling for the participant come with inherent and known asscociated risks and danger. People who are willing to undertake and accept that risk should be free to do so while FULL WELL understanding the risk they take and the potential danger involved.



There is another word or phrase for this... ... ... . it is called "LIFE" or living life of fulfillment. Life cannot be made 100% safe, nor should it be mandated by more overbearing and invasive laws.



It is a terrible loss that those people as well as Jimmy Leaward were killed. On the other hand, they were pursuing and engaged in activities that they loved and brought fulfillment to their lives.

 

[Dl5treez]

In theory, we are supposed to live in a free society. Many things in life that are exciting and thrilling for the participant come with inherent and known asscociated risks and danger. People who are willing to undertake and accept that risk should be free to do so while FULL WELL understanding the risk they take and the potential danger involved.



There is another word or phrase for this... ... ... . it is called "LIFE" or living life of fulfillment. Life cannot be made 100% safe, nor should it be mandated by more overbearing and invasive laws.



It is a terrible loss that those people as well as Jimmy Leaward were killed. On the other hand, they were pursuing and engaged in activities that they loved and brought fulfillment to their lives.

Exactly! You said what I wanted to say, but in a more polite manner. :-laf



It seems the only people really trying to pin blame during this are the media.

 

[fest3er]

That's what the media do. It's called blamestorming. I'll quit before I pull this thread fully into the politics arena.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The climb is not uncommon in air racing if a motor puke's they climb to get out of the way and to get a better look at where they are going to land. Have been to many Reno Air Race events and all that have a MAYDAY do the same thing. Roll at the top (split S) is so they can see better most of the canopies have also been modified so looking around isnt as easy as just looking up when your already upside down (think about it). If I were to make a guess and that is all any of us can do I think that something gave up he yanked back on the stick as they do and it put a tremendous about of force on the cable's/bellcranks/ turnbuckles/ cable guides and the cables became slack with no control. To say a trim tab came off and caused this I dont think so these planes are pretty close to trim on take off ,the tab's are for a change in air temp/ moisture. If a trim tab makes this happen then we would have never had any Skyraiders come back in Viet Nam. They came back and had holes in the wings so big that a 55 gal drum could be put thru it whole flap and aileron gone on one side. I know that they werent going 500 mph but they were allot lower to the ground. Ask any Marine or Army that needed close air pulled many tree branches out of wing and control surfaces,

 

[BIGNASTY]

Some pics of Reno All Coast lumber after they lost Super Coursair in AZ They did race in other places AZ and Mojave CA Not all the 51's were the same the one's below had Allisons the later planes had the Rolls Royce Merlin The Merlin was a far better motor and runs rings around Allisons. They were all in the Unliminted Class but NO CONTEST in performance.

 

[BIGNASTY]

And some more