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  by Tom Donovan 11 months ago

  Hi Pete, thanks for sharing this with all of us. I saw a simmiler thing happen a while back (No one was hurt luckly) but there was some damage to the aircraft and the hanger wall!
  Iv,e just read Jeffs reply and im going to modify my pre flight check as well.
  Tom
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  by jeff trike 11 months ago

  Pete,
  
  I went flying yesterday (after reading your story). I now have an extra item on my preflight of my trike.
  
  Verify the throttle levers on the carbs are in the closed position.
  
  Jeff
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  by Pete Marsh 11 months ago

  Abid,
  Thanks for the kinds words my friend. Im still waiting to see one of your REVO trikes in the flesh! Cant wait! Man those things are nice in the pictures. Talked to Kamron, he says they are really sexy!
  Ok on the mag switch. Im afraid the switch is only part of the problem though. Had I been able to get to the switch quickly it would have helped. Maybe even solved the problem all together. But I dont think so. The amout of energy produced by that 912 so quicky is actually quite amazing! I would rather see a situtaion where it would be impossible for the aircraft to suddenly leap forward like that. I have some ideas, We should talk. Call if you want. Im in bedm So I have time! lol...unlike you...im sure your as busy as a one legged man in an ass kickin contest!! lol 1-831-245-9765
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  by Pete Marsh 11 months ago

  Mark,
  As is often the case, when a problem is examined with a new set of eyes the obviouse can often become clear. Like the book says "Professing themselves wise, they became fools" So in other words, some of us who have been around along time miss the obviouse. I had a friend run over by a trike when he was pull starting it. some how he was not cut into slices by the prop, but he was knocked out. when he woke up his trike was gone. He found it about a mile away in a heap. It had raced forward at full throttle, knocked him down and flew unmanned across the runway. it hit the ground several times (we found marks along the route) as it porpused along until it hit hard enuf to come apart.
  This would have been a good place for a dummy cord (kill switch teather) like you are talking about. I have been thinking about this too. It is unexceptible that we dont have a reasonable answer. I was thinking about a switch on the parking brake. As long as the parking break is engaged a computer controlled rev limiter could be activated. It would prevent the engine from gaining more then a certain percentage of RPM's as long as the parking brake was on. It wouldnt matter how far the carb butterfly's or slide's moved open. The ignition would retard or even shot off completely! THe switch could be located on the parking brake handle (wich would be a completey seperate operating lever then the foot brake) That way there would no way the engine could get killed by the pilot useing the foot break. THere would be no reson for the parking brake handle to be activated while in flight, or anytime after preflight was complete and the aircraft was ready to taxi. It would not be needed again until the flight was over, and the plane was secured and tied down. Maybe that would work? Sems like a better option right now then percocet and stiches...what do you think?
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  by Pete Marsh 11 months ago

  Jeff,
  As far as I can tell the springs were in the factorory setting. If the the cable came loose then the throttles would close. I always assumed that was correct because thats the way my motorcycle carbs always were, and My 582/618/503/447's were that way too. Does that sound corrct to you?
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  by jeff trike 11 months ago

  Pete, thanks for sharing your experience with us. I am glad you survived.
  
  I was wondering, were the throttle springs on the 912 in the factory configuration where the springs pull the throttle open? Or were they reversed?
  
  Jeff
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  by Mark Rubenstein 11 months ago

  Hi Pete,
  
  I just read your story and this is not the first time I have heard of a run-away aircraft. Granted, I have not soloed yet nor do I have a trike...YET! But, it has really bothered me when I hear about trikes (or any aircraft for that mater) become a full-throttle run away. Whether occupied by the pilot, or an instance where a passenger had there foot accidentally on the throttle or a stuck throttle or many other possibilities.
  
  This has had me thinking really hard. I know there have been instances where the pilot was starting the trike from the outside the trike where a pull start is required. But there have been others where the pilot was in the aircraft also when it became a run-away plane. I understand the initial shock of what is happening and trying to find the mag kill switches while trying to watch where the aircraft is headed, while trying to hold the bar in, while trying to keep from panicking, etc.
  
  So my question becomes this...why has no one (at least that I am aware of...manufacturers included) not installed a tethered easy release kill switch like available on virtually all personal watercraft? I can possible understand on a SLSA, but why not a ELSA? Here is a typical one I found on a search. http://www.slipstreamhover.com/product_p/hrd-spc-lanyardkill.htm To me, that would be $14 worth of insurance. If the operator is outside the craft and he is tethered to the kill switch, and it starts ot take off with out his....as soon as it pulls, it is off and rolling to a stop. If in the cockpit, would require a simple YANK of t he cord to get the craft to kill the engine.
  
  Just my observation. Seems like to me this would be CHEAP insurance! If it is available for Sea-Doo, then obviously it can work on a Rotax! Am I thinking outside the box? I am not talkiing about replacing the mag switches, I am talking about as a secondary ign kill. Mag switches would still have to be on and functioning.
  
  Just my take. This coming from a new triker!
  
  Mark
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  by Abid Farooqui 11 months ago

  Pete. So sorry to hear of this. I believe I did see this accident in the NTSB database. I didn't know it was you however. I am glad you came out alive and ok. This is a good one to learn from. I like the ACS keyed ignition we use which like a Cessna has mag positions and start position. No chance of not having control of mags while starting for the pilot as the pilot's hand is on the key. Best and have a full recovery
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  by Pete Marsh 11 months ago

  I want to share the details of a terrible accident that I recently survived in the hope that I might help my fellow pilots not to make the same mistake.
  
  On the 22nd of Aug I was preparing to fly from Reid Hill View Airport in san jose california, back to my Home Airport at South County in Morgan Hill California. I had been haveing trouble with the carburator sticking open on the right carb for several weeks. I had made many adjustments to the cable, lubed the cable and related components. Every time I thought I had the problem reduced it would return after a few hours. While on the ground at RHV I showed the problem to my friend and after some head scratching and tinkering we decided it was the throttle butterfly return spring. We made a small adjustment and it was working perfectly! It was tested, and retested. All was in order, so I strapped in the trike, strapped on my helmet, pulled the parachute pins and performed the rest of the preflight check list. I was ready to make a safe flight, so I checked to make sure all the controls were free, the throttle was closed (both foot and hand) and that the brakes were set. I started the engine and it instantly went to full throttle!! THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE 912 POWERED MACHINE!! It rocketed forward. straight toward another airplane. I swerved to miss the aircraft and the trike acted as if it would roll over (I was already doing about 30MPH!!) As I tried to control the machine and prevent total loss of stability, I was also forced to hold the control bar with both hands to keep the wing at a negetive angle of attack. I did not want the aircraft to become airborne! To my front was a huge set of power wires (this was in the tiedown/hanger area) as well as hangers and trees. If the trike had become airborne Im sure I would have been killed. I have never been more sure of anything in my life! As the trike gained speed I could see that I was going to impact a Zlin Savage Cub the was tied down in front of me. The Antares mag switches are low, under the pilots left thigh near the cheek of the operators butt. I was wearing gloves. I managed to let go with my left hand from the control bar and desperatley pawed at the mag switches. I managed to turn one off just as I slammed into the Zlin at about 50mph! THe impact was impossibly violent. THe right side flying wires got caught under my neck and almost took my head off! As emergency workers moved me I realised I could not feel my arms or legs. I could not move them either. Then I realised I was not breathing and I started to grey out.
  I was on life support for a week until I was able to live with out it. My feeling and muscle movenent returned, but I had to stay in Hospital because of a collapsed lung and multiple broken ribs. I also broke my left arm (again) and ended up with a nasty scar across my neck that looks like some one tried to cut my throat from ear to ear with Noriega's rusty machete!
  This is what I have to offer:
  As an instructor I feel strongly that I it my duty to pass on what I have learned to other pilots so they dont have to suffer like I am. My aircraft is destroyed. I damaged other planes owened by other pilots...friends of mine! So this is what I have learned...
  A) THe throttle was stuck at the carb, So everytime A trike pilot starts his engine HE MUST HAVE THE MAG SWITCHES IN HIS HAND!!!
  B) Dont start your trike faceing toward any potential obsticle or hazard!! make sure the way to your front is clear...give yourself time to react. I didnt have that.
  
  That really is about all I had to do to make this turn out differant. I have a reapairman cert with Inspection rateing. But I should have sent that peice of crap carb back to the factory for inspection or to be reaplaced.
  
  I hope I have helped some one with this, It is very hard to admit when we screw up! We are a prideful group us trike pilots. So I know you guys understand how hard this crow is to swallow. But warm crow is better then cold...right?
  GOD Bless you guys! Its a good day to be alive. Feel free to call and we can talk about it more. Im in bed...and bored!!!
  Pete Marsh
  Alaskan Airborne Adventures 1-831-245-9765
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  by John Williams 1 year ago

  Pete Marsh: Good to hear from you! Come to see me in Virginia when you visit Georgia. My Airborne xt912 is scheduled to be part of the static display at the Langley Air Force Base "air power" show at the end of April. It should be a hoot to see a trike parked between a B2 Bomber and a F22 Raptor. Perhaps they will park me under the bomber'w wing.
  If you really do come to Georgia, take time to drive/fly just a wee bit further to meet the NC trike pilots, and then come up to Williamsburg for a week or so; we have plenty of room in our house for visiting pilots.
  Later this summer, I plan to fly our Cirrus SR-22 out to Oregon. One of my partners will fly the Cirrus home while I drive home over a 5 week period, towing my trike with me, and stopping to fly in all the western states and across the mid section of the USA while we work our way back to Virginia. You can contact me at my email: jdwlaw@gmail.com Hope you are truly enjoying California -- however, I understand, having lived in Alaska, you can't take the state out of your system. Warm regards, JDW