Aileron Ribstitching

[TimHicks]

So I was on the last stitch of the 2nd aileron when I got this sinking feeling in my stomach that something was missing.

Can you see it?

Now I'm earned the opportunity to cut out all the rib stitches and get more rib-stitching practice.

[mike lutz]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

Did it myself once.Only takes one time and your cured for future jobs.

[skip]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

Thanks for sharing!
My Ailerons were just blessed and sprinkled with pre-cover holy water by the A&P Supervising my rebuild, so this is very timely.
I have been practising my seine knots on a spare covered frame.
Now where did I leave that roll of rib-stitch re-enforcing tape???

Skip Egdorf
TF #895
BC12D sn 7700 N34237

[crispy critter]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

Lol, ya forgot the reinforcement chafe tape or whatever ya want to call it.....I bought a tcraft once that had a fresh recover with less then 50 hours on it and they didn't use it on anything....and they stitched the wings too. Needless to say it was a job to correct but I did and it looked pretty good in the end.

[crispy critter]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

I hate to admitt this on myself but when we were doing the first annual on crispy after the rebuild, I realized that I had forgot to install the rib lacing in one wing. Dad came up with a way to install it thru the inspection panels down the center of the wing but we couldn't get to the trailing edge ribs. We had to pull the wing back off to do it and it took us an entire day to do what should've only taken me 10 minutes if I had done it when I was supposed to,lol........ I won't forget it again.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

<snip>..forgot to install the rib lacing in one wing. </snip>........ I won't forget it again.

I bet you won't...one whole year's flying without rib lacing on one wing? I bet the stalls were interesting!

[3Dreaming]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

I hate to admitt this on myself but when we were doing the first annual on crispy after the rebuild, I realized that I had forgot to install the rib lacing in one wing. Dad came up with a way to install it thru the inspection panels down the center of the wing but we couldn't get to the trailing edge ribs. We had to pull the wing back off to do it and it took us an entire day to do what should've only taken me 10 minutes if I had done it when I was supposed to,lol........ I won't forget it again.

Kevin, I think you are talking about the inner rib lacing. It is my understanding that it is used to keep the ribs parallel while covering, and after they are covered serve little purpose. If it was rib stitching I'm with Robert of the interesting stalls.

[crispy critter]

Re: Aileron Ribstitching

Lol, no it wasn't the rib stitching. I was the inner rib lacing. Dad and I both argued with out IA about it because the ribs were straight and were not going anywhere once stitched. However our IA said it was part of the STC and unless we could get the FSDO to sign off on it then he at least wanted it installed down the center of the wings. He seemed to think it might help prevent the ribs from chaffing the fabric from the inside caused from vibrations over time.

So I called the FSDO and they agreed that it was no big deal and we were fine but they wouldn't put it in writing because it is a published step in the ceconite manual and is not listed as optional, therefore making it a requirement as part of the STC. They did talk with our IA and told him it would never cause a problem. However if it were ever involved in an accident that might be suspect to fabric problems in the wings, aileron flutter, or anything that might not be obvious or explainable it may lead some picky investigator to say it might be possible that it was caused due to the omission of the inner rib lacing cord, therefore leaving the guy who signed it off completely liable and responsible....... Whatever happened to commen sense? Oh I know, politics and lawyers! Aint it about time for a good revolutionary house cleaning in Washington?