T-6 "Triple Nickel" home at last, but broken

Sat May 23, 2009 2:58 pm

After the L-bird fly-in at the NMUSAF, the Mosquito painted T-6 "Triple Nickel" (LTA 555) was damaged during landing when making a fuel stop before returning to San Marcos, Texas. She has finally been trucked home.

Some damage occured to the left wing and center section. We are looking for a jig for the left wing so repairs can begin. Also does anyone have a "A" frame to lift the fuselage off the center section, or a suggestion on how to do it easily?

Sat May 23, 2009 3:05 pm

Ground loop? 3 point or wheel landing? Tell us the story..

Sat May 23, 2009 4:43 pm

Mike: If you can't find an Aframe easily, try calling in a heavy wrecker with either split booms or a rotator boom. If you use a heavy wrecker, make sure that you use wide straps and get him to just lift enough to get the fuselage off the center section. An operator with good finess sould be able to rig and get the move down very quickly without even distrubing the dust on the paint.

Above all, go slow, be sure of what you are going to do at eack stage of the lift and only have one person giving directions...too many chiefs and you run the risk of something or someone getting crunched...

Sorry to hear that the bird got pranged, and hope no one was hurt.

Sat May 23, 2009 4:47 pm

mike

whats the C section damage?? i already have a approved engineered fix for the bottom spar cap repair if you need it..

jcw

Mon May 25, 2009 4:20 pm

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm forwarding this link to Grant so he will be able to print out the suggestions. Still looking for a jig for the left wing so repairs can be made on the wing.

So far we think the spars on the C section are OK. The landing gear actuator pulled out and the gear kind of made a mess of the skin above it.

As far as the landing goes, it was a normal wheel landing, until the tail came down. Then the tailwheel went balistic, and use of differential braking was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft departed the runway at a slight angle, and everything would have been fine, if it hadn't been for that dang ditch along the runway! That took out the left main gear, resulting in the prop strike, etc.

Mon May 25, 2009 5:28 pm

OUCH! No injuries other than the pilot's pride? That has to have been NOT a smooth ride!!!