---------------------------------------------------------- RV-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 07/10/08: 16 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:08 AM - Re: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question (Jeff Point) 2. 04:10 AM - Re: VOR Antenna Mounting... (sheldon barrett) 3. 05:01 AM - Re: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question (Dana Overall) 4. 05:01 AM - Re: VOR Antenna Mounting... (Ralph E. Capen) 5. 06:27 AM - Re: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question (Charles Heathco) 6. 09:06 AM - Re: VOR Antenna Mounting... (Tim Bryan) 7. 10:55 AM - Plane Crash (Robin Marks) 8. 12:15 PM - Re: Introducing myself (Greg Green) 9. 12:23 PM - Re: Plane Crash () 10. 02:07 PM - Re: Plane Crash (Skylor Piper) 11. 02:44 PM - RV-8/8A builders/flyers meetings at OSH (Kevin Horton) 12. 03:20 PM - Re: Plane Crash () 13. 03:51 PM - Re: Plane Crash (JFLEISC@aol.com) 14. 05:05 PM - SLICK MAGs (Robin Marks) 15. 06:14 PM - Re: Plane Crash (Jerry Calvert) 16. 07:37 PM - Re: Plane Crash (Ron Lee) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:08:18 AM PST US From: "Jeff Point" Subject: Re: RV-List: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question It's a non-issue. The system only puts a little pre-load on the aileron controls via the springs. You won't feel it in the stick and the A/P won't care. In fact, I find the my wing leveler (Naviad) works just a little better when it has to fight the trim a little bit. Not sure about the Trio, but I'd love to swap out the Navaid and find out! I did replace the stock springs with much longer ones that ran most of the length beteen the trim arm and the control stick, attached by very short pieces of safety wire at the ends. Jeff Point RV-6 flying/ RV-8 building Milwaukee ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 04:10:51 AM PST US From: "sheldon barrett" Subject: Re: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... I have a 6A and mounted my VOR antenna under the h.s. on the tail cone... so outa sight, I forget it's there sometimes.. works very good too... Sheldon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Dralle" Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 8:38 PM Subject: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... > > RV-Listers, > > I'm mounting a VOR antenna on the Vertical Fin and came up with this > idea for installation. I'm thinking maybe adding a .063" plate > underneath for added rigidity. Maybe another under the black antenna > mount as well. Does this seem like a decent way to mount this? Other > ideas? > > Matt ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:01:45 AM PST US From: Dana Overall Subject: RE: RV-List: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question Dean=2C not an issue with the same setup. Manual trim=2C Trio A/P.. Short and sweet. Dana Overall Richmond=2C KY i39 RV-7 slider "Black Magic" Flying..well sorta=2C useta=2C kinda Barrett Precision O 360 A1A Hartzell C2YR-1BFP/F7497-2 http://rvflying.tripod.com/blackmagic.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMi05-WU2D0#GU5U2spHI_4 http://rvflying.tripod.com do not archive > Date: Thu=2C 10 Jul 2008 01:22:59 -0400 > From: dean.psiropoulos@verizon.net > Subject: RV-List: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question > To: rv-list@matronics.com > on.net> > > > RV builders who've installed manual aileron trim (the little lever betwee n > the seats with the springs down to the control stick pushrod heim joint > bolt). I built the airplane with this mechanism but forgot to install it > when I assembled the control column=2C sticks and pushrod tubes. After > noticing my error and dragging out the parts I noticed that the trim leve r > relys on the clamping force of a plastic block around the trim lever shaf t. > This got me to wondering if the drag from the trim system would adversely > affect the operation of the autopilot (EZ Pilot). Anyone have experience > with manual aileron trim interfering with the operation of your wing > leveler? Or...is this a non issue? Thanks. > > Dean Psiropoulos > RV-6A N197DM > Weighing this weekend=2C inspection next week. > > > =========== =========== =========== =========== > > > _________________________________________________________________ Making the world a better place one message at a time. http://www.imtalkathon.com/?source=EML_WLH_Talkathon_BetterPlace ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:01:46 AM PST US From: "Ralph E. Capen" Subject: Re: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... I have a 6A with the older tail - My VOR/LOC/GS antenna is mounted very similar to how you are planning yours. I put a backing plate under the top rib and built a hat section to raise the antenna and level it. The hat sectioon is removeable for maintenance (or in case I got the level angle wrong). My antenna is a Comant CI-182 (IIRC) and it fits completely under the fiberglass cap - the only thing sticking out are the 'eye pokers' but with a 6A they're way up there. Ralph -----Original Message----- >From: Matt Dralle >Sent: Jul 9, 2008 11:38 PM >To: rv-list@matronics.com >Subject: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... > > >RV-Listers, > >I'm mounting a VOR antenna on the Vertical Fin and came up with this >idea for installation. I'm thinking maybe adding a .063" plate >underneath for added rigidity. Maybe another under the black antenna >mount as well. Does this seem like a decent way to mount this? Other ideas? > >Matt ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 06:27:30 AM PST US From: "Charles Heathco" Subject: Re: RV-List: Aileron Trim and wing leveler question I fabricated and instrlled the trim lever right after I got the plane,( 6a) its very effective, has no efect on the autopilot, nor is it noticibel hand flying. Charlie heathco ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 09:06:12 AM PST US From: "Tim Bryan" Subject: RE: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... Matt, I mounted mine just about like you show. In spite of all the eye poking advice I also got for my taildragger, I have yet to poke mine or anyone else. It has been a non issue and if anyone else gets that close to my plane, I cringe anyway. Mine is a little more forward on the stabilizer than you show and the black disc sticks out from the fiberglass by a small amount on each side. It works great. Tim Bryan RV-6 Flying N616TB over 100 hours now > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-rv-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list- > server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Matt Dralle > Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:38 PM > To: rv-list@matronics.com > Subject: RV-List: VOR Antenna Mounting... > > > RV-Listers, > > I'm mounting a VOR antenna on the Vertical Fin and came up with this > idea for installation. I'm thinking maybe adding a .063" plate > underneath for added rigidity. Maybe another under the black antenna > mount as well. Does this seem like a decent way to mount this? Other > ideas? > > Matt ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 10:55:56 AM PST US Subject: RV-List: Plane Crash From: "Robin Marks" Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought the plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into LA. This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can think about these days are defective Mags. While circling the site I had time to think how great owning an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. Robin Do Not Archive ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 12:15:54 PM PST US Subject: RV-List: Re: Introducing myself From: "Greg Green" Had my subscription on digest, so didn't see your replay's. Thanks for the welcome. I am no longer a design engineer at Boeing. I switched to a software developer (also at Boeing) in 1996, right about the time of the big push to composites, instead of the beloved aluminum+rivets. The job (design engineer) was too much paper pushing for me. I still work with all those guys, so if you have any questions for me, I can ask the experts. There are some very fine engineers working there, also at Northrop, Lockheed, Airbus, and countless second tier suppliers. Never met anyone from Bombadier. They work on those little airplanes. :) Now I work on software for helping the engineers, specifically the up-front design, which is very interesting. Lots of cutting edge working going on, also a lot of mistakes, notice the big delays with the new airplanes. I think the guys at Vans do a fine job also, from what little I've gotten through so far. More buildable than some of the stuff I did. :) It is true that advanced CAD skills != good designs. That is what experience and mentoring is for. Tools are just tools, it is the person behind them that makes them work. One thing is pretty clear to me, there needs to be more young people in aviation, it is greybeard's everywhere at Boeing and the other places. Not the premium place for young people to go anymore it seems. That doesn't bode well for the future, especially when the opposite seem to be true in Asia. I guess I better stop yakking, Have a good day all. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=192170#192170 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 12:23:52 PM PST US From: Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash Can not tell if it is a retract or not. If it is then it is a 172 or 182. 206's are fixed gear and 210's do not have struts. My guess is a Cutlass 172RG. ---- Robin Marks wrote: > Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned > in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a > downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula > airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the > airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. > SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked > for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and > within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I > didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought the > plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate > the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless > there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact > and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS > coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was > even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on > a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong > way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as > they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I > suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people > standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper > road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local > rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small > hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. > Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC > thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into > LA. > > This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the > results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or > 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) > > > > http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html > > > > > > > > It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can > think about these days are defective Mags. > > While circling the site I had time to think how great owning > an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. > Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. > > > > Robin > > Do Not Archive > > > > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 02:07:50 PM PST US From: Skylor Piper Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash 210's had struts from '57 through '66 --- On Thu, 7/10/08, dsvs@ca.rr.com wrote: From: dsvs@ca.rr.com Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash Can not tell if it is a retract or not. If it is then it is a 172 or 182. 206's are fixed gear and 210's do not have struts. My guess is a Cutlass 172RG. ---- Robin Marks wrote: > Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned > in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a > downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula > airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the > airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. > SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked > for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and > within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I > didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought the > plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate > the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless > there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact > and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS > coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was > even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on > a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong > way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as > they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I > suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people > standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper > road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local > rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small > hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. > Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC > thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into > LA. > > This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the > results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or > 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) > > > > http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html > > > > > > > > It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can > think about these days are defective Mags. > > While circling the site I had time to think how great owning > an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. > Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. > > > > Robin > > Do Not Archive > > > > > ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 02:44:04 PM PST US From: Kevin Horton Subject: RV-List: RV-8/8A builders/flyers meetings at OSH In years past there have been one or two RV-8/8A builders meetings in the Theatre in the Woods. Several other builders who frequent the Yahoo RV-8 Group have expressed interest this year, so there should be at least a handful of builders at the Theatre in the Woods at the following dates/times: Tuesday at 10:15 Thursday at 10:15 Both meetings would be at the Theatre in the Woods. If it is raining, we will meet under the roof. If it is not raining, we can meet just outside on the end away from the stage. I'll bring stick-on name tags and markers, so we can identify the people who belong to the names we've seen online. At one point, I had hoped to fly my RV to OSH this year. There is no way that will happen, but maybe I will have flown by then. My wife and I will drive down. She is originally from Green Bay, so will spend the week visiting sisters while I bake (or drown) at OSH. -- Kevin Horton RV-8 (final assemby) Ottawa, Canada http://www.kilohotel.com/rv8 ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 03:20:37 PM PST US From: Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash eah you are right. I did not begin flying till after that, my bad. ---- Skylor Piper wrote: > 210's had struts from '57 through '66 > > --- On Thu, 7/10/08, dsvs@ca.rr.com wrote: > From: dsvs@ca.rr.com > Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash > To: rv-list@matronics.com > Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 12:20 PM > > > Can not tell if it is a retract or not. If it is then it is a 172 or 182. > 206's are fixed gear and 210's do not have struts. My guess is a > Cutlass 172RG. > > ---- Robin Marks wrote: > > Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned > > in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a > > downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula > > airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the > > airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. > > SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked > > for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and > > within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I > > didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought > the > > plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate > > the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless > > there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact > > and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS > > coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was > > even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on > > a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong > > way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as > > they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I > > suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people > > standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper > > road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local > > rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small > > hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. > > Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC > > thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into > > LA. > > > > This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the > > results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or > > 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) > > > > > > > > http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can > > think about these days are defective Mags. > > > > While circling the site I had time to think how great owning > > an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. > > Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. > > > > > > > > Robin > > > > Do Not Archive > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 03:51:49 PM PST US From: JFLEISC@aol.com Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash Kudos do not archive **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112) ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 05:05:48 PM PST US Subject: RV-List: SLICK MAGs From: "Robin Marks" I emailed BPE this morning regarding the joy of having TWO brand spanking new mags that fall under the SB. Rhonda did a little research and found a solution that gets around the SB / future inspections. She OK'd me to post this to the list: Here is the pricing from the local accessory shop in Tulsa, Quality Aircraft Accessories. Replace the carbon brush and cam, including labor for any Slick mag at or around 100 hours for $75/mag. This would be Aero-Accessory replacement parts, so they would not be affected by the SB after the repair. Justin Hicks at Quality can be reached directly at (918) 835-6948 for assistance. I am not sure what it takes to do this yourself. The SB makes the replacement seem pretty simple. Robin ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 06:14:04 PM PST US From: "Jerry Calvert" Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash IDENTIFICATION Regis#: 9627B Make/Model: C172 Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk XP, Cutla Date: 07/10/2008 Time: 2346 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N Damage: Substantial LOCATION City: FILLMORE State: CA Country: US DESCRIPTION AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER, FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD AND FLIPPED OVER, 6 MILES FROM FILLMORE, CA INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk: # Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk: # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: WEATHER: VFR OTHER DATA Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER FAA FSDO: VAN NUYS, CA (WP01) Entry date: 07/10/2008 ----- Original Message ----- From: Robin Marks To: rv10-list@matronics.com Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:52 PM Subject: RV-List: Plane Crash Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought the plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into LA. This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can think about these days are defective Mags. While circling the site I had time to think how great owning an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. Robin Do Not Archive ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 07:37:06 PM PST US From: "Ron Lee" Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash Odds on it running out of fuel? Ron Lee ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Calvert To: rv-list@matronics.com Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:12 PM Subject: Re: RV-List: Plane Crash IDENTIFICATION Regis#: 9627B Make/Model: C172 Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk XP, Cutla Date: 07/10/2008 Time: 2346 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N Damage: Substantial LOCATION City: FILLMORE State: CA Country: US DESCRIPTION AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER, FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD AND FLIPPED OVER, 6 MILES FROM FILLMORE, CA INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk: # Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk: # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: WEATHER: VFR OTHER DATA Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER FAA FSDO: VAN NUYS, CA (WP01) Entry date: 07/10/2008 ----- Original Message ----- From: Robin Marks To: rv10-list@matronics.com Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:52 PM Subject: RV-List: Plane Crash Yesterday while flying back from SBP to WHP (a regular commute) I tuned in to speak with SOCAL traffic. They asked if I had time to look for a downed plane. I had picked up a strong ELT when I crossed Santa Paula airport but I assumed someone was either testing their ELT on the airport or ???. I said sure I have time and would be happy to help. SOCAL asked me to fly towards the Reagan Presidential Library. I asked for vectors but they didn't really know however I had some idea and within 30 seconds located the HUGE building on the top of a hill. I didn't realize Reagan was such a big reader. From there ATC thought the plane was about 2 miles west. It took about another 10 seconds to locate the plane. I expected that it would be VERY difficult to find unless there was smoke but the plane was lying in a hill side completely intact and spread eagle so it was a snap to locate. I gave ATC the GPS coordinates and circled waiting for emergency response vehicles. I was even able to redirect the response team when they went the wrong way on a dirt road. It was kind of fun. I told ATC they were going the wrong way and 10 seconds later I see all the vehicles stop and dust fly up as they reversed their course. It was difficult to tell from 3,000' but I suspected the plane was upside down and I think I saw 4-5 people standing near the nose of the plane. I also saw a truck on the upper road so I assumed that there were survivors and aid from a local rancher. I believe the pilot tried to land on the upslope of the small hill and dug the nose into the hillside putting the Cessna on its back. Once the police/fire were onsite there was nothing more I could do. ATC thanked me for my assistance and headed off to complete my flight into LA. This morning I found a link with video of the plane and the results. Note it is NOT a 172 but a retract Cessna, most likely a 206 or 210 (not an expert on Cessna's) http://cbs2.com/local/Simi.Valley.Crash.2.767545.html It's obviously too early to know what caused the crash but all I can think about these days are defective Mags. While circling the site I had time to think how great owning an RV-9 or RV-8 with a IO-320 would be to perform this function. Tremendous plane with excellent visibility and low fuel burn. Robin Do Not Archive ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rv-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.