Engine Issues in the Seguin Quickie Twerp Brood

The Seguin Quickie Twerp was an innovative, experimental aircraft designed by Elliot Seguin and his colleague Justin Gillen. This single-seater composite aircraft was part of a broader category of kit planes, specifically tailored for air racing. Despite the promising design and the expertise behind its construction, the project faced significant challenges with engine reliability, which were documented extensively in what is known as the Twerp Report.

Engine Challenges

The engine of the Seguin Quickie Twerp was a critical component beset by issues that undermined its performance. A primary issue reported was the occurrence of uncommanded engine shutdowns. These incidents were particularly notable during idling when the aircraft was on the ground. The root of this problem was identified as an inadequacy in the engine’s built-in starter generator system. This system was unable to generate sufficient electricity to sustain the engine's operations at lower power settings.

These shutdowns posed a considerable risk not only to the aircraft’s performance during races but also to the safety of its operations, necessitating a thorough investigation and eventual documentation in both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report and the comprehensive Twerp Report.

Implications for Design

The engine issues of the Seguin Quickie Twerp underscore the challenges faced by experimental aircraft, particularly those involving new or unconventional technologies. This case highlights the importance of robust testing and the need for reliable power systems in aircraft design. It also reflects the dynamic nature of experimental aviation, where designers like Seguin and Gillen push the boundaries of conventional aviation technology.

The experience gained from the Seguin Quickie Twerp Brood serves as an invaluable lesson for engineers and enthusiasts in the field of aviation, illustrating the complexities of integrating new technologies into aircraft systems and the importance of comprehensive fault analysis and documentation.

A Quickie Twerp Brood

A Quickie Twerp Brood refers to a unique and experimental amateur-built aircraft known as the Seguin Quickie. This aircraft was a single-seater composite plane designed and constructed for air racing by Elliot Seguin, a commercial pilot and professional test pilot, along with his colleague Justin Gillen.

Design and Construction

The Seguin Quickie was based on the Rutan Quickie Q1, a featherweight taildragger designed by Burt Rutan, the founder of Scaled Composites. The original Quickie Q1 was an innovative homebuilt aircraft that had been abandoned by its original owner before it ever flew. Seguin and Gillen saw potential in this design and decided to modify it for their purposes.

Modifications

The most significant modification involved the installation of two small PBS TJ-40 turbojet engines. The stock Quickie engine, which was mounted on the front of the fuselage and weighed approximately 80 pounds, was replaced by these jet engines, each weighing only 8 pounds. This modification aimed to create a flying test bed for the first manned application of these engines and to study their performance and reliability, particularly at altitude.

Testing and Challenges

The testing phase of the Seguin Quickie, affectionately known as Twerp, was rigorous and fraught with challenges. The aircraft underwent a series of low- and high-speed taxi tests at Mojave Air and Space Port. These tests revealed that the Quickie was tricky to handle even on land.

Engine Issues

One of the primary issues encountered during testing was the uncommanded shutdowns of the engines while idling on the ground. This problem was attributed to the engine's built-in starter generator, which was unable to generate enough electricity to support the engine at low power settings. To mitigate this, Seguin and Gillen found that running the engines at or above 20% power greatly increased their reliability.

The Crash

Despite the meticulous testing, the Seguin Quickie met with an unfortunate accident. During a test flight, a gust of wind banked the Quickie over 45 degrees, and the port motor quit. This upset may have contributed to the flameout by disrupting the airflow on the lee side of the fuselage. Seguin managed to keep the starboard motor producing thrust in an effort to get over the obstacle, but the aircraft ultimately crashed.

Documentation

The crash of the Seguin Quickie is well-documented. In addition to the NTSB report, there is also the Twerp Report, made available by Elliot Seguin. This report provides detailed insights into the events leading up to the crash and the technical challenges faced during the testing phase.

Media Coverage

The story of the Seguin Quickie and its crash has been covered extensively in various media outlets. Smithsonian’s Air & Space magazine published a feature titled "Elliot and Justin’s DIY Jet," which includes in-depth interviews with Seguin and Gillen. Additionally, the test flight was filmed for Red Bull TV, and footage of the crash has been published online, drawing significant attention to the incident.