"Details Make The Difference"

One cool spring day, a fellow flew into X-58 for gas. He parked beside the gas tank and got ready to leave. Not having an electic starter, he proceeded to hand prop the aircraft as he had many, many times in the past. Unfortunately for him, not only was the throttle accidently set to far open, but the airplane was not chocked. The engine roared to life and leapt forward. The poor fellow, seeing his plane was headed for a nicely equipped Maule, grabbed the right wing strut to stop it. The airplane swung around to the left toward the gas tank, tried to climb over the 2-foot cement barrier wall and promptly got stuck. The engine continued to run and the wooden Sensenich prop smashed into the barrier wall over and over, sending wood splinters flying everywhere. When the poor pilot finally got the engine shut down he had a ruined prop, a bent oleo strut housing (landing gear), a bent elevator half, a slightly twisted fuselage, not to mention a sense of wounded pride.

One small solace was that the insurance policy he thought he'd let lapse was still in effect!

We were able to repair the damage to the elevator half and the fuselage, but felt the oleo strut housing (landing gear) was better off getting replaced.

Aerothane was used for the final coat and the result was excellent, as you can see for yourself. Lemon Yellow was the "base" coat, with International Orange for the trim.

Upon reassembly, all new hardware was used, even down to the grease fittings on the oleo sturts. And, after a new piece of hardware was installed, it was immediately treated with an anti-rust compound.