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Mystery needs an Ercoupe Guru...

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18 Mar 2024 12:56 #13 by Super User
Replied by Super User on topic Mystery needs an Ercoupe Guru...
OK - time for some specifics - the model of the plane is a 415-C converted to a what with STC's?

What is the engine model? (65hp? 75hp? 85, 90? etc.)

Any other airframe STCs?

Stupid question: have you examined all the linkages and bellcranks that are involved? Maybe there's some sort of slop that only applies during load?

The left nose tendency sounds a lot like P-factor for which right-rudder is the real answer - something a rudderless plane can't do.... ;-)

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18 Mar 2024 12:25 - 18 Mar 2024 12:27 #14 by James Davis
Replied by James Davis on topic Mystery needs an Ercoupe Guru...
Simple answer is: No... What I meant as other stages of flight is the normal pattern flight stages.
Imagine a 1000 ft pattern flight. The symptom shows itself only at the moment of liftoff to 20'-25' of the runway.
Same degree turn to the left, same amount of right wing drop and when that is corrected with yoke input by the pilot, then climbs straight, turns straight, level flight straight, descent straight and controlled and lands straight without any other symptoms.
If you try touch and go again same thing repeats at the moment of the lift off...
Nobody could come up with a certainty what may cause this?
This plane supposed to be highly modified and very well taken care of by a very experienced owner and was advertised here...
First ferry pilot notified me this behavior.
Then I noticed myself.
Then a friend with over 820 hrs on his Ercoupe tried and it scared the heck out of him.
Plane will go in for its annual in a week and we will check everything and make sure all is at where and how they supposed to be.
I was just wondering if anybody had a similar issue and hold a light to possible deficiency may cause this move?
Thank you for your response, I appreciate.
Last edit: 18 Mar 2024 12:27 by James Davis.

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18 Mar 2024 11:46 - 18 Mar 2024 11:55 #15 by Ronald Raty
Replied by Ronald Raty on topic Mystery needs an Ercoupe Guru...
This is interesting. Just to clarify, when you say "never again at any other stages of a flight.." does that include slow flight and power on stalls and power off stalls?
Last edit: 18 Mar 2024 11:55 by Ronald Raty.

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18 Mar 2024 02:24 #16 by James Davis
Mystery needs an Ercoupe Guru... was created by James Davis
I have a video to send to those of you interested to show what my newly purchased Ercoupe is doing during takeoff...

On a dead calm day, not a leaf moving, almost at sea level runway (220'MSL)  65F...
- Normal takeoff run-
- At 65/70 mph leaves the runway
- at 5' AGL nose sways to the left at drastically and drops the right wing a ft or two and almost floats in a crabbing position
- if takeoff process continued this move is corrected with a right input on the yoke and then left to level the wings... this happens in 10-15 seconds of time and by that time plane is back at runway heading and climbs perfectly straight
- level flight is straight
- no issues on turns to the right or left
- descent is stable
- touchdown without any issues
- braking ok, slow down to stop without any other problematic behavior.

hit the throttle to take off again and same weird move repeats itself at same degree, same intensity, same time period and then the rest of the pattern flight is back to normal again...

What kind of a problem only shows itself and cause a move like this only between runway and 25' AGL and only at during takeoff and never again at any other stages of a flight.?
Discussion at another Ercoupe forum is going on between many people but so far nobody can figure it out the issue in a definitive way...

I have the video to show the behavior to those who are interested to see. please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. address so I can send you the video.
Who knows maybe someone can figure it out what I need to do to correct this issue.
I am scared to fly the darn thing as it is now.
God Bless you all and fly safe!

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