CAF Zero ground loop...plane identified

[David_Aiken]

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp? ... M=1641.652

This ground looped Zero was just rebuilt from the ground up as a new Zero to look just like the movie Zero. It started flying in April and belongs to the Commemorative Air Force. It was built from a SNJ-6.
Zero N9820C Tail number AI-118

[262crew]

T-6?

[CAPFlyer]

Yes, it's a Hollywood Zero and part of the Tora! group.

It is not a new replica. It's one of the original Tora birds, however it was re-restored recently. As of Saturday, they were supposed to have been doing a test flight and then continuing to McChord. Thankfully it was minor in nature and the parts were available to effect a quick repair.

[Jack Cook]

Having read the article ****insert stupid comment here****.
Having been in a ground loop in a T-6 in which a gear leg was snapped in half.
I have a hard time saying the damage is 'minor'. The wing or prop didn't take a hit????
BTW great pic of a Apache with a crane in the distant background

[CAPFlyer]

Having read the article ****insert stupid comment here****.
Having been in a ground loop in a T-6 in which a gear leg was snapped in half.
I have a hard time saying the damage is 'minor'. The wing or prop didn't take a hit????
BTW great pic of a Apache with a crane in the distant background

Jack, I cant say for sure, but from what I understand, the pilot was able to shutdown the engine before the gear leg failed. As well, the impression I was getting was that this wasn't a complete separation of the gear from the aircraft.

[spookythecat]

The Tora performance had 7 planes on Sat and 8 on Sun if that helps.

[Matt Gunsch]

I would be real leary of flying a plane who's gear trunions had been sujected to that much of a overload. I would have the gear out of that plane and inspected, and if the gear passed, pull the stress panels and do a dye check inspection on the trunions.

[CAPFlyer]

Matt, they pulled the damaged leg off and put a new leg on. I'm sure they did an inspection as it's required as part of a ground loop inspection on T-6s so I would be surprised if the FAA let them bypass it on the replicas.

[Matt Gunsch]

Matt, they pulled the damaged leg off and put a new leg on. I'm sure they did an inspection as it's required as part of a ground loop inspection on T-6s so I would be surprised if the FAA let them bypass it on the replicas.

The FAA could give a rats behind if they did a inspection, the FAA comes out, does a accident report, then they leave, they do not follow up on repairs, or inspections. it is all up to the mechanic signing it off. I have seen the trunions crack after a ground loop and the only way to see them is to pull the stress panels and get in there to look around. Throwing a leg on is a way to get it home, but then after that, it needs some serious looking at.

[CAPFlyer]

Matt, I know the FAA won't directly look at it and stand there until they do the inspection and that wasn't what I said. I said that the inspection you speak of is required on the T-6 and I doubt that the FAA would allow the replicas, which use the T-6 maintenance procedures as the basis for their maintenance plan, to not have that inspection be required as well.

Remember, this plane sat in Pendleton for over a day before the new gear leg arrived. That time is sufficient for the stress panels to be removed and the inspection performed. I've seen those panels off the wing on other T-6s and it doesn't seem like something that would take an inordinate amount of time to access during a gear leg swap.

[Matt Gunsch]

I will bet you that they did not pull the stress panels while they were waiting for the gear. if they did, they would never be able to reinstall them and the plane would have a dihiedral the likes that has never been seen.
The only way you can pull the stress panels is with the plane on its gear, and once they are off, it cannot be moved, or remove the wing from the plane.

There is no maintance program for T-6s, only the military manuals and FARs. Unless the plane is above a certain weight, there are no programs, just the FARs,

[skymstr02]

There is no maintance program for T-6s, only the military manuals and FARs. Unless the plane is above a certain weight, there are no programs, just the FARs,

You are correct Sir. The only inspection that is required on the Zero Replicas is the condition inspection once a year. I've worked on the CAF Tora airplanes in the past, and they do not receive extravigant maintenance, usually the minimum required to get by.

[CAPFlyer]

There is no maintance program for T-6s, only the military manuals and FARs. Unless the plane is above a certain weight, there are no programs, just the FARs,

Matt, you are continuing to put words into my mouth. Where did I say the word "program"? I said maintenance PROCEDURES. There is a distinct difference. As the Tora birds are certified experimental, I would bet that the Maintenance Plan on the certificate is something to the effect of "maintain the aircraft in accordance with the FAA-approved T-6 Maintenance Manual and any applicable FARs concerning periodic airworthiness inspections."

[skymstr02]

As the Tora birds are certified experimental, I would bet that the Maintenance Plan on the certificate is something to the effect of "maintain the aircraft in accordance with the FAA-approved T-6 Maintenance Manual and any applicable FARs concerning periodic airworthiness inspections."

No, the operating specs only say FAR 43 App D. The OEM maintenance manual cannot be used ver badem as the aircraft are modified too much to use the maintenance manual. For instance, some of the aircraft have a retractable tail wheel, there are no rear controls, no rear instrument panel, center flap is fixed in the retracted position, and there is no flap position indicator with the center flap inop. The FAA can't say to use only parts of the manual that are applicable to your aircraft.

[Andy Marden]

Where does N9820C usually live please?
Andy Marden