Aircraft 'crashed' a while ago south of Cheddleton?

[Vince C]

I was on a members and shareholders day out on the Churnet Valley Railway on Friday when a fellow passenger pointed out the remains of a light aircraft, just east of the railway, south of Cheddleton station, staffordshire (itself south of Leek by about 3 miles). It was some distance away so I couldn't determine the type, but if pushed I'd say PA28. Said passenegr reckoned it had crashed there but it could be a scrapper than someone's placed there.

Anyone know?

[eyestotheskies]

Vince,

Could this be what you saw ? According to Wrecks & Relics (21st Ed) G-BFAA is stored at Cheddleton and is derelict. CoA expired 18-11-90. No mention of a crash.

I couldn't find it on a trawl of GE though.....

[Vince C]

ETTS, that's almost certainly it. I was a tad disbelieving about it having crashed, as although it was a long way away from the train, it didn't look mangled. And being not too far from my neck of the woods, I'm sure I'd have remembered any accident either from AAIB reports or other sources.

Many thanks.

[3 Point]

Just happened to notice this when searching "Gardan". This aeroplane was indeed in a hedge in Shropshire for many years, it is now in a much more dilapidated state and belongs to me. I bought it last year to scavenge parts for another Horizon I own so, in a way some parts of it are flying again!

Happy landings!

3 Point

[Rob P]

The original poster is on a self-imposed sabbatical, but I'm sure he'll read it and be grateful for your response.

Do stick around, it can be quite fun here.

Rob P

[3 Point]

Thanks Rob,

Once I figure out how I'll post a picture of the aeroplane as it was wen I bought it - rather less of it remains now! Pretty sad for a machine with only 1300 hours on it!

Happy landings

[3 Point]

Here is a picture of G-BFAA as it sat in the field



Don't know the date.

Here is a picture of it on a trailer about to head off to Enstone where parts from it were used earlier this year to repair my Horizon after a landing accident.

[Rob P]

Sorted!

Rob P

[Steve R]

Oh we do like Horiizons around here, well Flyingjohn and I do as we own shares in GYAT based at Farthing Corner. Quite a few forumites have been in her as well, and AOPA reckon she's so tasty that she's used in their advert in the magazines.

In rather better condition than those sorry pictures.....

[3 Point]

Hi Steve,

Flying john and you are obviously gentlemen of good taste and fine judgement! I met John earlier this year when he sold me a new flap to help with the repair of my Horizon G-ATGY. I’m back in business flying again and so far all is going very well.

Happy landings to you both!

3 Point

[Flying_john]

G-BFAA was originally sold on ebay after sitting in that field since 1990 where the original owner had just left her and given up flying. The ebay seller claimed to know the owner and was selling it on his behalf. At the time I bid - but another chap bought it and chopped off most of the rear section and wings as they were corroded very badly. He got the engine going and he said his intention was to sell the engine to a PFA'er and then sell the rest. I made an offer but heard nothing further until I found that Dave ( 3 point) had aquired her to help get his Horizon back in the air.

Glad its all worked out and the flap is back flying

John

[AlanC]

Talking of GY80 parts... Do any of the French owning forumites have any bits of landing gear lying around? My GY80 has just been grounded with wear in the trailing link pins & bushings necessitating replacement. The next avenue is writing to Holland...

[Mikey]

That's funny, I was poking around the remains of G-BFAA at a very windswept and completely empty Enstone the other day trying to figure out what type it was.

Between me and my mate we decided it was defintely French and I had a guess at Horizon, which is confirmed by the picture of the trailered hull above! It looks even more sorry for itself now!

That was my first visit to the north side of Enstone, seems like a nice little club with some interesting aircraft in the hangars. I plan to revisit once the weather improves!

[Flying_john]

Hi AlanC - I wonder which bits you are after. Our U/C has been recently dismantled and there is some wear in the bushes, but nothing that cannot be repaired/remade in a competant machine shop.

Which bits are you after I wonder. You will have to let us know how you get on trying to get bits out of Mr Van Doorp.

As for Mikeys visit to Enstone - there should be another GY80 being restored there , AWAC, which was salvaged after an incident at Compton a while ago. I know it was waiting for the repair scheme to be approved, but had hoped she would be back on the circuit by now

[AlanC]

Hi John - unfortunately, it appears to be the slightly unusually shaped pins in the trailing link joint that are worn on mine, as well as the bushes. Part of the problem would appear to be the usual certification issue over simply machining new parts... Sad to say, but if it was on a permit I would have it back in the air by now, and safely!

Yes, I gather that getting the old stock can be a rather tricky/impossible process but sometimes these things have to be tried to at least know the current position.