Wind damage reports??
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Wales
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Don't know about the extent of damage to the aircraft yet as I haven't visited or phoned them. Going to phone tomorrow to see if I can hire a plane for Wednesday and ask about the damaged aircraft. Just hope they can keep the business ticking over through the winter with the remaining aircraft. 
28th,,
28th,,
niknak
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Out of interest only, given the fact that we all had at least 36 hours notice of this impending breeze, would an insurer be justified (legally or otherwise), in refusing to pay out for damge if and aircraft owner / operator had not taken all reasonable steps to hangar the aircraft, where hangerage was available, regardless of the overnight cost of renting space.
Knowing insurance companies logic, it wouldn't suprise me at all if they refused to pay out in quite a few cases.
P.S.
If anyone wants a greenhouse door, half it's roof and 2 panes of glass, I seem to have aquired them overnight - they're available for collection form my back lawn.
Knowing insurance companies logic, it wouldn't suprise me at all if they refused to pay out in quite a few cases.
P.S.
If anyone wants a greenhouse door, half it's roof and 2 panes of glass, I seem to have aquired them overnight - they're available for collection form my back lawn.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
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Picking up on an earlier posting re: positioning for tiedowns, It does seem strange to me that the control lock on my 172 sets the elevators in a neutral position.
I'd been thinking about the propensity of high wingers to somersault over the w/e (or indeed over anything :-), and it does make sense (if the aircraft is into wind) to have a means of locking the elevators down.
Until I persuaded Barton to put my aircraft in the hangar, I was quite concerned, as they only had one concrete block available, to which they proposed to tie my beloved aircraft to (I lease it to the club BTW). Since the block can't weigh much more than one or two human beans, I had visions of the aircraft doing a flip, with the concrete landing neatly on top of it to compound the damage.
Another idea, which I've seen advertised in the US, is some funny shaped blocks which you strap to the top of the wing to spoil the lift (called, funnily enough, spoilers). Sounds a good idea, and one that we might be able to cobble up at home - e.g. a sort of "sock" that slips over the wing starting from the wingtip, within which are various odd shaped foam blocks to effectively spoil the aerofoil capability. Doesnt stop the wind from getting underneath the wings & lifting them from below of course....
...and some aviation-related damage.... "Terminal 1" at Sherlowe strip (Shropshire) had its roof partially blown off on Sunday, though the 3 aircraft there are OK.
I'd been thinking about the propensity of high wingers to somersault over the w/e (or indeed over anything :-), and it does make sense (if the aircraft is into wind) to have a means of locking the elevators down.
Until I persuaded Barton to put my aircraft in the hangar, I was quite concerned, as they only had one concrete block available, to which they proposed to tie my beloved aircraft to (I lease it to the club BTW). Since the block can't weigh much more than one or two human beans, I had visions of the aircraft doing a flip, with the concrete landing neatly on top of it to compound the damage.
Another idea, which I've seen advertised in the US, is some funny shaped blocks which you strap to the top of the wing to spoil the lift (called, funnily enough, spoilers). Sounds a good idea, and one that we might be able to cobble up at home - e.g. a sort of "sock" that slips over the wing starting from the wingtip, within which are various odd shaped foam blocks to effectively spoil the aerofoil capability. Doesnt stop the wind from getting underneath the wings & lifting them from below of course....
...and some aviation-related damage.... "Terminal 1" at Sherlowe strip (Shropshire) had its roof partially blown off on Sunday, though the 3 aircraft there are OK.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Insurance
I would expect any insurance company to balk at paying up if the insured was deemed to have failed to have taken 'reasonable precaution' to prevent the damage.
Leaving an aircraft outside in the weekend wind without being properly tied down will surely result in a 'sorry mate - claim refused.'
At best you can expect a 'negotiated settlement' that takes into account the insured's neglect. Max wallet grief I'm afraid. And why not? Why should anybody be in a position to sit indoors and think - 'don't worry about it - it's insured. ' A look at the small print would have got owners rushing to the field I bet!
I was in a Grob syndicate until a year ago - we left it outside for 6 months and folded/ hangared it for the Winter.
The tie-downs were substantial chains set in one-tonne concrete blocks. All I did was dig the holes, drop the chains in and slop the mix in.
We also fitted a set of Cambrai heavyweight covers. Excellent protection plus spoilt aerodynamics.
It never budged.
Total peace of mind for a weekend of digging, plus a few quid on the covers - secondhand when they were bought several years ago and still perfectly fine.
Fortunately - my 3 were all tucked away. I am lucky to have hangarage.
BB
BB
Leaving an aircraft outside in the weekend wind without being properly tied down will surely result in a 'sorry mate - claim refused.'
At best you can expect a 'negotiated settlement' that takes into account the insured's neglect. Max wallet grief I'm afraid. And why not? Why should anybody be in a position to sit indoors and think - 'don't worry about it - it's insured. ' A look at the small print would have got owners rushing to the field I bet!
I was in a Grob syndicate until a year ago - we left it outside for 6 months and folded/ hangared it for the Winter.
The tie-downs were substantial chains set in one-tonne concrete blocks. All I did was dig the holes, drop the chains in and slop the mix in.
We also fitted a set of Cambrai heavyweight covers. Excellent protection plus spoilt aerodynamics.
It never budged.
Total peace of mind for a weekend of digging, plus a few quid on the covers - secondhand when they were bought several years ago and still perfectly fine.
Fortunately - my 3 were all tucked away. I am lucky to have hangarage.
BB
BB
niknak,
Sort of what I was alluding to in my earlier post. If an aircraft is not properly tied down with an impending 'breeze', then I would expect the insurance company to be giving you a hard time if you claim subsequently. If I'm right in thinking that the aircraft where from a flying club, they I'd say someone must be help acountable too. Sort of a 'no brainer' in my books.
S
ps, I have nothing to do with insurance companies.
Sort of what I was alluding to in my earlier post. If an aircraft is not properly tied down with an impending 'breeze', then I would expect the insurance company to be giving you a hard time if you claim subsequently. If I'm right in thinking that the aircraft where from a flying club, they I'd say someone must be help acountable too. Sort of a 'no brainer' in my books.
S
ps, I have nothing to do with insurance companies.
The 2 Cardiff A/C in the BBC picture are both PA 28's so low wing. Apparently both have been written off.
Not sure about damage to the club's PA 38 fleet as I never fly them.
The only available hanagarage at Cardiff was demolished last year, with no plans (I believe) for a replacement. Although there is a large empty hangar nearby which is up for lease as a warehouse - not sure why it is unavailable to A/C.
There are very few tie-downs available on the club apron. In previous storms, the A/C have been parked on the grass & secured to spikes - not sure whether this was done on this occasion. (Although the picture suggest both were on the apron)
I'm not happy at all, I'm sure the A/C won't be replaced for ages (if at all!) it'll probably curtail my flying for the winter.
Not sure about damage to the club's PA 38 fleet as I never fly them.
The only available hanagarage at Cardiff was demolished last year, with no plans (I believe) for a replacement. Although there is a large empty hangar nearby which is up for lease as a warehouse - not sure why it is unavailable to A/C.
There are very few tie-downs available on the club apron. In previous storms, the A/C have been parked on the grass & secured to spikes - not sure whether this was done on this occasion. (Although the picture suggest both were on the apron)
I'm not happy at all, I'm sure the A/C won't be replaced for ages (if at all!) it'll probably curtail my flying for the winter.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Power back on now so the computer works..Cub rode out the wind AOK including 60+ kt gusts moored outside in the open (tail into wind), so it is possible! It still amazes me when nosewheel aircraft are damaged (except by flying debris) by high winds. We always put the nosewheels in small dips to reduce wing incidence...and are always aware that a tie-down isn't holding the machine to the ground, ie stopping it flying, but preventing movement relative to your carefully considered parking orientation to the wind direction...
Not so N, but still FG
Join Date: May 2000
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Someone above mentioned that the the aircraft at Cardiff looked as though they had not been tied down. The Today programme interviewed one of the Cardiff instructors who said that all of the aircraft were indeed tied down, but, given the extremity of the conditions, they were damaged nonetheless. A real bummer for the owners, staff and members of that club. Perhaps I'll stop complaining about the high rent and grotty condition of the Waltham hangars where my group's machine slumbered peacefully through the storm (well, I'll stop for a bit). Loved the bit about the flying tank.
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Loved the bit about the flying tank
"A Helicopter, Land Rover patrols & soldiers under the command of Regimental Sergeant-Major PRATT, have failed to find the rubber tank - officially a "pneumatic deception device" worth £10,000. The lose cannon with a difference was still at large in South Wales yesterday. It was believed to be near Tredegar, possibly heading towards Abergavenny.
Army officers have told police, aviation authorities and local farmers to be ready for its reappearance."
You couldn't make this one up if your tried!
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Phoned Cardiff flying club to see about renting an aircraft for Saturday (was going tomorrow but couldn't make it) and was told they have 5 servicable aircraft left, the rest are either in bits, damaged or being 'checked out'. No chance for Saturday or Sunday.
Looks like weekday flying for me for the foreseeable future.
£150,000 worth of damage was done and quite a fair bit of lost revenue too I should imagine.
To make matters worse I had a letter from them this morning giving me a £10 discount if I pay my membership fee early.
28th,,
Looks like weekday flying for me for the foreseeable future.
£150,000 worth of damage was done and quite a fair bit of lost revenue too I should imagine.
To make matters worse I had a letter from them this morning giving me a £10 discount if I pay my membership fee early.
28th,,
Join Date: Jun 2002
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A £10 discount for early payment of the annual fee at cardiff hey!!
well with a £150k worth of damage im surprised that there are any discounts being banded around or is it just a cunning ploy to keep the current cliontel.
V.V dissapointing to hear about the damage to the a/c but i would suggest that it was a god-send that they dismantled that 'hangar', used in the loosest sense of the word as i think it may well have joined the inflatable tank and ''old Ron'' on the walk around the country, just prior to it slicing up the a/c that it may have gouged its way through on its departure.
I await my letter of discount!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well with a £150k worth of damage im surprised that there are any discounts being banded around or is it just a cunning ploy to keep the current cliontel.
V.V dissapointing to hear about the damage to the a/c but i would suggest that it was a god-send that they dismantled that 'hangar', used in the loosest sense of the word as i think it may well have joined the inflatable tank and ''old Ron'' on the walk around the country, just prior to it slicing up the a/c that it may have gouged its way through on its departure.
I await my letter of discount!!!!!!!!!!!!!
