Cruisemaster accident at Falcon Field

If you will google "Bellanca Cruisemaster," and scroll down to Russell Williams' essay on the landing gear, you will find what you need.
PS....I don't know where you come up with the "elk hide" comment. The chevron packings in the Cruisair gear are made from a rubber/fabric composite, much like a fan belt.
You can buy the LG springs from Alexandria. However, I've had them made locally....main and tailwheel.
Dan
 
I had not looked at the Russel Williams site in a long time. It is great. Just a note about the inner parts of the gear. I took one set of Cruisair gear apart and found Cruismaster dampers inside. They are an improvement, in that the holes that control the flow of fluid (the dampening effect) are on the bottom of the damper strut, rather than higher up like a Cruisair. The end result is that you still have dampening when your fluid level gets low (which most do leak). I had no idea that the parts were interchangable between the 2 planes, but they seem to be. Bellanca had a slow but steady improvement process. Also looking at Russels site, I did not know that 14-19s had different retract cylinders than 14-19-2. The photo of the retract cylinder breakdown, shows the shaft with (what I call the plunger?) on one end. When rebuilding, there is a small O-ring sealing the plunger to the shaft. It would be easy not to notice it. Just another 2 cents worth. _____Grant.
 
Grant,
Remember that the 14-13-3 had the 14-19 shock absorpsion system and strut. Maybe that is what you took apart.
Do you still have them?
Dan
 
I think I still have the parts, but I am sure I took them from regular 14-13 gear legs , since I have never had any of the uppers that are the same diameter all of the way up. I suspect that there has been lots of MIX AND MATCH with Bellanca parts over the years. Grant.
 
This airplane is up for salvage sale and I bid on it. I bid VERY low, so we'll see. Some notes on the airplane itself, if anyone else bid on it sight unseen (I went out and inspected it):
1. It's an older restoration that was of decent but not great quality.
2. It does have additional fuel - I think 87 total gallons, which is a LOT of fuel
3. Panel is a disaster. A previous owner was 'experimenting' with various panel configurations and it looks like he used an axe.
4. Interior is quite nice.
5. Minor damage from rough handling by the salvage guys who moved it; mishap damage is - twisted prop, big time scrapes and bending of bottom cowl which had already been patched, spinner ruined, all belly antennas ground off, both flaps damaged, one aileron appears 'tweaked' - I'm not sure if this is mishap damage or not.
6. Logs prior to 1975 are reconstructed.
7. Engine is just shy of 1200 SMOH; overhaul was a field overhaul.
8. There's ambiguity about what caused the gear collapse, so I won't speculate.

If I end up owning it, I'll bring it home and take the engine apart for inspection. If the crank is junk, I'm going to part the airplane out. I will post here if I am the high bidder.

Brad Donner
NC77605
 
Brad,
Where is it posted for salvage? I'm not interested in the whole bird, but might be interested in a couple parts.
Sad that it is most likely scrap at this point.
 
I spoke with the insurance adjuster who is in charge of the auction and confirmed that someone did purchase the plane - I don't think it was anyone on our forum. Naturally he wouldn't give me any details other than to say "it sold for more than we were expecting". He further mentioned that the person that bought the plane had purchased other damaged aircraft and rebuilt them. Based on these comments I don't think the plane was purchased by a salvage outfit. I asked the adjuster to pass along my name and contact info to the new owner explaining that I am trying to keep track of the status of the fleet of Cruisemasters. If I hear anything further I will post it.
 
I wasn't the successful bidder :-(

But I concur with the post about the airplane going to a rebuilder. It'll be flying again before long and that's great news!
 
I have one in my neck of the woods that is coming up for salvage also, sounds in the same shape, just for an ideal on price what are you offering so I can be in the same ball park on this one? Thanks Joe
 
Brad there is one on the other end of the country that is coming up for bid and is in the same shape, I was wondering what price range you was thinking so I know I will be in line? Thanks Joe
 
I received a call from the new owner of N9842B today. He is a former Cruisair owner and also a former contributor to this forum. He bought the Cruisemaster from the insurance auction sight unseen and has not yet assessed the scope of the damage. The intent at this point is to put the bird back in flying condition. I have encouraged him to join the club and update us on the project status as his work advances.
 
I heard the same news and I hope he joins. I had a mechanic inspect the airplane before I bid and offered $4k. The high time engine and messed up panel is what kept my offer low. I believe the buyer paid $7-ish for it.

The reality of a wood wing Bellanca project is this: Even if you get it for free, you will likely spend more money than it will ever bring rebuilding it and that's if you do most of the labor yourself. But that's the case in almost any project airplane. I easily have double the retail value of my Fairchild in its restoration, but it will be one of the nicest ones in the country when done. It's a toy, not an investment and if I had it all to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

I hope the new owner of the Cruisemaster returns it to service and enjoys it.
 
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