Just to let everyone know I had a serious problem with a landing
    today and the plane is seriously damaged.  Pilot has a scratch on his
    thumb.

    I had a pretty bad bounce on landing and after the second bounce,
    decided to go around. That was a mistake.  I never got out from behind
    the power curve and ended up doing a high power skid into the grass on
    the south side of the runway.  Both main wheels were torn off, the prop
    disintegrated, an the fuselage is somewhat bent.  After contacting the
    ground, the plane did about 1/2 turn and skidded to a stop.

    Bob W.

    --
    N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 - http://www.bob-white.com
    First Flight:  11/23/2006 7:50AM - 3.3 Hours Total Time
    Cables for your rotary installation - http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/

    Dang! I was just about to go over there and take some pictures
    of Bob's airplane. I have never been a fan of tail dragger's.
    I think they add to the hazards of aviation. They are fundamentally
    unstable on the ground. The CG is behind the main wheels. Therefore
    there are situation where they are impossible to control no matter
    how good the pilot.

    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Bob, we are taking an early stand by flight non-stop to Albuquerque
    Monday morning. I'll call you when we arrive. I would like
    to see how the motor mount made out.

    Folks, the news letter will be shut down about noon today for
    a few days. Don't send messages until I get back.

    Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

Glad to hear Bob's okay..


Matt-

With over 6500 hrs in tail-dragger's and no accidents or incidents, I
think you need to reassess your "opinion" of tail-dragger's. It's good
when a man knows his limitations...

Eric Benson

It is not an opinion. It is a law a physics. The CG is behind the
side force input and that causes  severe yawing motion in the airplane.
It is the same as putting the feathers on the front of the arrow.

Your obviously a highly skilled pilot that can handle a fundamentally
unstable design. Particularly on pavement. However most of the
people on here are building airplanes and not bush flying for a
living.

They are rusty to say the least and some are brand new pilots
with little time in tail dragger's if any. They need all the help
they can get. A nose gear airplane is stable when touching down,
unlike a tail dragger, because the side restoring force is behind
the CG just like the feathers on the back end of an arrow.

Statistically speaking tail dragger's have more accidents
and hence hull insurance cost more.

http://www.eaa.org/communications/eaanews/051215_insurance.html

Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

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