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From: Steve
Product: Product 1
Date: 24 Aug 2000
Time: 09:56:35
Remote Name: 206.31.111.24
Although I've several dozen successful landings since my prior landing error on my PT-60 trainer, and four beautiful landings with my Venture60, I learned that each and every landing must be properly set-up and executed. In this case, I started the approach way too far away.
The result was that I could not properly judge the plane's speed. It stalled, dropping its left wing. Up elevator kept the nose up, but the plane spiraled into the ground from about 12 feet.
The outer to ribs were shattered, but spruce spars and most of the balsa spars intact at the damaged area. There is nothing left of the leading edge.
The wing ripped off of the fuselage, causing some damage on the leading edge at the attachments. Some work is in store to rebuild the pegs.
The fuse is heavily damaged on the right side behind the wing trailing edge. This is where the first oval hole is located. The top of the side between the fuselage formers shattered, taking with it the two stringers right above. However, the damage is limited to that specific area.
The part of the fuselage former directly behind where the tail's trailing edge bolt holes are located is also damaged. I'll have to fabricate something to replace the part of the that former which intersects with the fuselage bottom.
Having said all that, I've reconstructed and reglued the thing back together. The question is, is this advisable? I don't know what stresses are placed on this part of the fuselage during normal flight.