you had 6 seconds to pull the throttle off and kill the master. It is wierd that a bolt could do this, i too have lost tail springs, but a 1940's tigermoth is still controllable. Shame the kit fox was appealing for the time when my medical gets cancelled.
Glad you are ok. When I was training for my tail wheel endorsement I went of the runway once. That is probably why the instructor took us to a open airport without any ditches to practice wheel landings in a strong crosswind. Scary though.
I am happy there were no serious injuries or worse. If as one commenter said this is a common problem with the Kitfox, then maybe a beefing up of the mounting bolts is needed.
I built a kitfox in the nineties and flew it ten years. The factory tubular landing gear was toed-in quite a bit. You can't have ANY toe-in. I had some taildragger experience, or I would have ground looped it many times. They put out an AD for that problem, but even fixing it, it was still a problem to land in xwind. I eventually went to the Grove Wittman spring gear. It is much wider and springy. After that it was like having autoland.
This looks all too familiar to me. I was in an accident with the owner of a kitfox I wa going to buy and he did a terrible take off stall. glad to be alive.
I've seen a much more serious crash at my local airport while i was on final;
A kitfox that was bought the previous day had a prop pitch malfunction and crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff while I touched the runway with a maule..nobody was hurt, but I'm still left with the impression that kitfoxes are unsafe. Glad you're ok. Sorry about the nice aircraft..
Some polish engineer put a reversible pitch propeller on the kitfox, and it went into reverse on takeoff. Very stupid to use a reversible propeller on such a light aircraft.
My rudder cable attachment broke at the rudder pedal. Luckily, it was noticed by a friend when I asked him to look the plane over. Otherwise I would have had that happen too.
Yes we were fine. My 14year old bumped his head but was okay. I am still scratching my head going over detail to figure it out. A few days after this happened I noticed talk on the list about another kitfox who broke a bolt and had no control. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. This plane was a grand champion award winner so my heart and gut were sick, sick, sick!
right rudder,,,,lift the tail,,,dont' need a tailwheel or tailspring.
tailwheelflier 7 months ago
Kitfox is still a great plane, I would recommend it wholeheartdly. Tons of fun to fly. Go for it!
masfoxcss 7 months ago
you had 6 seconds to pull the throttle off and kill the master. It is wierd that a bolt could do this, i too have lost tail springs, but a 1940's tigermoth is still controllable. Shame the kit fox was appealing for the time when my medical gets cancelled.
benmerkenhof 7 months ago
i WISH MY DAD TOOK ME FLYING.;)
wolfstriked 9 months ago
IS ANYBODY ALL RIGHT? YOU CAN SAY NOE.
levelat350 10 months ago
Ouch...hope the plane is still good.
5StarDirector 1 year ago
Glad you are ok. When I was training for my tail wheel endorsement I went of the runway once. That is probably why the instructor took us to a open airport without any ditches to practice wheel landings in a strong crosswind. Scary though.
EvlMagus 1 year ago
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pilot sucks...
Fascination13fly 1 year ago
Having had a plane crash myself, the only solace is that Piper keeps making them and I survived to fly again. Lucky you and your son did too...
pabobfin 1 year ago
This is why we don't role joints while taxiing.
Mostlyfun 1 year ago
yes exactly, it was one of those hanger houses right next to a deer proof fence. I was more concerned of it than the house.
masfoxcss 1 year ago
You had to think quick and clear that house right?
CGMIX150 1 year ago
I wish it had only been 15k!
masfoxcss 1 year ago
One Kitfox airplane $15,000, one Sony camcorder, $350.....crashing with your son , priceless.....Father and son outing-quality time
ushouldntjudgeme 1 year ago 5
I am happy there were no serious injuries or worse. If as one commenter said this is a common problem with the Kitfox, then maybe a beefing up of the mounting bolts is needed.
prcacowboy82401 1 year ago
hey masfoxcss did you find out what really happened?
sowmach 2 years ago
I built a kitfox in the nineties and flew it ten years. The factory tubular landing gear was toed-in quite a bit. You can't have ANY toe-in. I had some taildragger experience, or I would have ground looped it many times. They put out an AD for that problem, but even fixing it, it was still a problem to land in xwind. I eventually went to the Grove Wittman spring gear. It is much wider and springy. After that it was like having autoland.
jwills8606 2 years ago
This looks all too familiar to me. I was in an accident with the owner of a kitfox I wa going to buy and he did a terrible take off stall. glad to be alive.
HauffMachineProducts 2 years ago
Frickn' wind blew you off the runway man.
Billy982810 2 years ago 4
I've seen a much more serious crash at my local airport while i was on final;
A kitfox that was bought the previous day had a prop pitch malfunction and crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff while I touched the runway with a maule..nobody was hurt, but I'm still left with the impression that kitfoxes are unsafe. Glad you're ok. Sorry about the nice aircraft..
nuclear944 3 years ago
What does a prop pitch malfunction have to do with the Kitfox? Kitfox doesn't make props.
mickeyqbitsko 2 years ago
Some polish engineer put a reversible pitch propeller on the kitfox, and it went into reverse on takeoff. Very stupid to use a reversible propeller on such a light aircraft.
nuclear944 2 years ago
I wonder if it was a Woodcomp?
I'm starting to think I should stick with an O-200 and a Sensenich.
mickeyqbitsko 2 years ago
Yes, it is pointless.
nuclear944 2 years ago
Constant speed props, thats what he's talking about
critter63boy 2 years ago
дура
evgmart 3 years ago
My rudder cable attachment broke at the rudder pedal. Luckily, it was noticed by a friend when I asked him to look the plane over. Otherwise I would have had that happen too.
yak55x 3 years ago
this is apparently a common failure on kitfoxes, super super dangerous part of the aircraft to fail. i wish more people knew about it.
itsumonihon 2 years ago 2
If the tail bolt keeps breaking maybe change it out every 6 months or so like a on going AD
lazybob1234 3 years ago
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use the rudders next time :p
don't bank the aircraft at a strong cross wind.
alanleo 3 years ago
dummie did you not read? mechanical failure
itsumonihon 3 years ago 2
40 knots, he'd be airborne!
fb2800 4 years ago
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hahahha maybe buy some instruction for him before solo
rischjuice 4 years ago
well if i was kitfoxflyer i'd inspect mine too because they use theirs as a mud duck taking off.
TRANSFORMER2508 4 years ago
I have broken tailsprings and had bolts fall out before , never experienced anything like that. Hope you were all ok ..
:)
kitfoxflyer 4 years ago
Yes we were fine. My 14year old bumped his head but was okay. I am still scratching my head going over detail to figure it out. A few days after this happened I noticed talk on the list about another kitfox who broke a bolt and had no control. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. This plane was a grand champion award winner so my heart and gut were sick, sick, sick!
masfoxcss 4 years ago
Sorry for your bad day, wing dings are no fun.
It looks like you handled your emergency well; the FSDO should smile on you for that.
Blue skies and dry cockpits, Bubba.
AntiStalinist 3 years ago
what the heck happened ?
kitfoxflyer 4 years ago
The FAA seems to think that a bolt in the tail spring snapped. It just started to veer off with no control what so ever.
masfoxcss 4 years ago
@masfoxcss
Did you abort? I can understand you not trying to.
noonedude101 2 months ago
Good thing you were only doing like 40 knots or less, that could have been way worse.
scubastevedan 4 years ago