REFLECTOR: 1st flight N2084D

[Brian Michalk]

Do you think you could measure the inboard deflection, and maybe take a
picture or two to help out the rest of us?

You've got a good example of flutter, and lived to tell about it.  You can
document this and we can maybe learn something from it.

 Brian Michalk  <http://www.michalk.com>
Life is what you make of it ... never wish you had done something.
Aviator, experimental aircraft builder, motorcyclist, SCUBA diver
musician, home-brewer, entrepreneur and barely single


  -----Original Message-----
  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of dean fitzbag
  Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 10:50 AM
  To: reflector
  Subject: REFLECTOR: 1st flight N2084D


  I made my first flight this morning.  It took me 21 months to build my
standard RG with no fast builds.

  The flight started fine with only a little over zealous elevator at
liftoff.   It handled well and before turning cross wind I retracted the
gear.  The airspeed was about 110 knots.  As I turned downwind I heard a few
sounds that sounded like an engine miss.  It quickly got very rough.  I
thought the engine was failing.  The aircraft was shaking badly.  I declared
an emergency and asked everyone to clear the area.  I reduced power right
away to improve chances of staying up longer and lowered the gear.  While
looking at the airport to plan which runway to set up for, I saw out of the
corner of my that my problem was left rudder flutter.  It was really shaking
everything.  Then as the airplane slowed to  100 knots the ride smoothed
out.  At 80 knots it was very smooth.  So I continued to fly a normal
approach and landing.  I'll call the factory tomorrow, but my guess is that
a shim will be recommended.

  The factory was very helpful during building process.  Mike Pollack did my
EAA inspections and was provided very useful advice.
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