REFLECTOR: Accident report - SQ2000

[SlvEgl99 at aol.com]

Too strong to be crashworthy? I think not. 
 
When Bob I (XL, FG) went down on its maiden flight, it hit a mighty  blow on 
the canard tip and nose, bashed a hole in the nose, sheared the nose  gear, 
flipped over, skidded some distance and came to rest on the top. Likely  hit the 
dirt doing about 90 knots.
 
The pilot walked away with a small cut on the head--no face bashing on the  
panel, no engine in his lap, no injuries requiring more than a change of  
clothes.
 
BTW, he is about 225 lbs, as I recall. The seatbelts and hard points  
survived with nary a break. No fuel leaks from the strakes. All were installed  in 
accordance with the factory plan. I'll admit that this was not a test of the  
seatbacks, and that is an interesting discussion, but it does testify to the  
crashworthiness of the plane.
 
Now, I don't recommend this as a way of landing, but a hellova lot better  
results than a spam can.
 
And I could tell some more stories if I had time.
 
Bob Wood
N658SE
XL, FG
Bob II
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