UPDATE!!!

We've made some great progress on Miss Belle's restoration! Here's a slideshow with some recent pictures of our progress:

AUGUST 18, 2002, 8 pm CST:  On their return trip from Skyfest Michiana, the pilot (Doug Goss) and crew (Richard Cronn, Bob Eichkorn) experienced catastrophic engine failure on the number 2 engine at an altitude of approximately 4000'.  While Miss Belle is designed for sustained single engine flight, the engine failure blew the number 1 cylinder, piston, and master rod from the plane, and in the process, severed the controls to the prop governor.  Lacking the ability to feather the prop blades, Miss Belle was unable to stay aloft.  With few options available, Doug was forced to make an emergency, gear-up landing in a cornfield near Macomb, IL. Through the combination of pilot skill and a healthy dose of good luck, the pilot and crew walked away from the landing without so much as a scratch. 

Unfortunately, Miss Belle was not so lucky.  Prop contact with the ground damaged the good (number 1) engine, and stress to the fuselage is obvious .  While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, the crew at TraderAir have every intent of restoring Miss Belle to flying condition as quickly as possible!  This will be an ambitious and expensive project, and Squadron 14 of the EAA is actively seeking tax deductable donations put this important piece of Naval history back into the air.  If you'd like to help in the repair of this historic aircraft, contact Squadron 14 (2630 S.E. Bennett Drive, Topeka, KS., 66005) or Doug Goss (1-785-866-6462) for details. 

Be sure to check back on the status of the restoration effort!

You can read more about the crash on this link from the Topeka Capital-Journal article.

Also, see the article written about the crash in the Jan-Feb 2003 issue of Warbirds International (http://www.challengeweb.com/warbirds.html)

Images of Miss Belle - August 18 & 19, 2002

Close-up photos of the engine, cylinder and assorted fragments

front of cylinder base	top view of engine case	cylinder, piston and rod fragments	cylinder, piston and rod fragments
upper end of master rod and wrist pin	section of cylinder barrel and flange (cut out by master rod)	This engine failure occurred at only 192 hours since major overhaul!!