F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

[steve_samo]

Hello All,

I would be most appreciative to anyone who could help me find some parts for my F-19. Despite storing it in a hangar at KBDR in Bridgeport, CT, the storm surge flooded the hangar for the first time in 60 years. My hubs received a good soaking in saltwater for about a week. By the time my mechanic and I removed them the damage was so bad you could scrape metal off the inside of the hub with a spoon.

My mechanic summed it up like this: Saltwater + Aluminum/Magnesium = Battery.

If that wasn't bad enough, a sudden Nor'Easter last month broke the belcrank connected to the aileron in the left wing. I've checked Univair, WagAero and others, but no luck so far. So the weather is finally getting better, and I'm stuck !

Many thanks in advance for anyone that can help me out.

- Steve Samoskevich
203-253-3818

[Robert Lees]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Hello Steve,

Welcome to the Taylorcraft Forum, and bad luck with the storm damage.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to help you out with parts, but in the interim, I'm sure you and your mechanic have made sure there is no other damage to the wing/aileron? I've not heard of damage to that part and that part alone. It might be worth checking all the cast magnesium aileron brackets, the aileron cables, and the aileron sprockets at the end of the control wheel shaft.

I don't mean to teach granny; all is meant in the best interest!

Have you got a picture of the failed bellcrank?

Regards,
Rob

[steve_samo]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the welcome aboard, and I truly welcome your recommendations. Failure of one of those other parts could surely ruin my entire day. See the pic attached.

- Steve

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Aw CRUD! Check the other aileron and all the hardware carefully. Typically in that kind of failure there is a pretty bad shock through the aileron cables to the opposite bell crank. If you are lucky all it did was bang the aileron up or down, if not the crank may be cracked or the the hinges may have damaged the spar (or the hinges may be cracked if they are the cast Magnesium ones). If the hinge fittings are still snug to the spar you are golden, if not there may be damage (crushing) of the spars.

While you are checking, take a close look at the spars at the attach to the fuselage for splitting at the root from the through bolts. Smacking a wing fore and aft puts a huge torque on the wing roots.

All of this is an abundance of caution, but cheap insurance. You are not likely to find more damage, but if it is there you will have a very bad day soon after flying again. The checks are easy now.

Hank

[steve_samo]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Thanks for the great information Hank. I did check the other aileron and hardware as you suggested. All appears ok.

I'll ask my mechanic to check the spars at the attach to the fuselage for splitting at the root from the through bolts.

I have a friend of mine whose son is on my son's baseball team. I was telling him about the belcrank and he asked me if I'd like him to fabricate one. He works in an advanced metal shop, and after describing the part to him, he doubted he'd have any trouble making it. Is this a direction I can pursue ? I have not heard anything back from anyone regarding where to get this belcrank. I sent Mr. Barber an email and left a voice mail as well.

Thanks again - Steve

Aw CRUD! Check the other aileron and all the hardware carefully. Typically in that kind of failure there is a pretty bad shock through the aileron cables to the opposite bell crank. If you are lucky all it did was bang the aileron up or down, if not the crank may be cracked or the the hinges may have damaged the spar (or the hinges may be cracked if they are the cast Magnesium ones). If the hinge fittings are still snug to the spar you are golden, if not there may be damage (crushing) of the spars.

While you are checking, take a close look at the spars at the attach to the fuselage for splitting at the root from the through bolts. Smacking a wing fore and aft puts a huge torque on the wing roots.

All of this is an abundance of caution, but cheap insurance. You are not likely to find more damage, but if it is there you will have a very bad day soon after flying again. The checks are easy now.

Hank

[3Dreaming]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Steve, I have one here in a box that is broke the same as yours. I think the part is the same as a BC12D. I would try looking for one of those instead.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Agree, if you can get an original part it will be less trouble. That said, if no parts are available, an owner produced part may be the only way back into the air. I would make sure you have a drawing, the material you will use and how you will make it all laid out and approved BEFORE you cut metal! That is a LOT of work to do and then have the feds say you can't use it!
Hank

[Pearson]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

The part in the picture appears to be made from cast material. My understanding of the owner produced part reg is that the new one would have to be made from the same material. Is that correct? It seems like it would be better if made from something other than cast. This brings to mind another recent post about why there are so many Aeroncas on the market. My personal opinion is that THIS is a perfect example of why Taylorcraft are not more popular than they are. But getting back to the topic of the thread, I am very curious about the remedy for this situation. If you end up making your own part, could you please share the process, drawings, and anything else that would help in the future. If we could catalog the steps each time someone overcomes a problem like this, eventually we would have a library full of solutions similar to that on the Aeronca or Luscombe websites.

[Robert Lees]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

My recollection of the bellcrank is that it is a cast magnesium item, so quite a challenge to reproduce.

However, there must be many hundreds of these in people's "parts bins" where an aeroplane has been "withdrawn from service" for reasons other than a broken aileron bellcrank.

So come on folks, search your workshops!

[steve_samo]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Thanks 3Dreaming, Hank, Mr. Pearson and Mr. Lees. I have not heard from anyone yet regarding the needed parts, but I remain hopeful !

I have also brought my Taylorcraft Foundation Membership back up to good standing. I have yet to hear from Forrest, whom I'm sure might know where to look.

No baseball game for my son this morning in rainy Connecticut, so I am soon headed down to KBDR to remove the bellcrank. Looks like 7/16 and 3/8 sockets and box wrenches to do the job. Wish I was better at removing cotter pins though !

You guys are the best ! I appreciate the support.

- Steve

My recollection of the bellcrank is that it is a cast magnesium item, so quite a challenge to reproduce.

However, there must be many hundreds of these in people's "parts bins" where an aeroplane has been "withdrawn from service" for reasons other than a broken aileron bellcrank.

So come on folks, search your workshops!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Can you post a photo of the damaged crank? I have some old wings I am going to be breaking down and I will look and see if there is a usable one like yours in there. May take some time, right now I am so close to having the 41 flying it hurts.
Hank

[steve_samo]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

I managed to get the cables disconnected this morning, as well as the nut off the bottom of the main 7/16 bolt that goes through the center of the crank. As my Dad would say, "Not bad for an office boy", but that is where I got stuck. The crank would fit pulling it straight out through the inspection hole, and I could not seem to get the 7/16 bold to come out through the crank. It turns, but does not come out. I tried banging it upwards from the bottom, but no luck.

I'll post another photo of the crank when I figure out what I'm doing wrong. In the meantime thanks for having a look when you break down your old wings. I did also hear from Forrest this morning, who believes he should have a crank.

- Steve

[3Dreaming]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Here is the set up. 1/4" bolt, Steel bushing 1/4"id 3/8" od runs all the way from top to bottom through the bellcrank and hinge bracket, bronze bushing in the bellcrank and hinge bracket. The steel bushing keeps you from being able to tighten it to much, and it should rotate in all the bronze bushings. The bolt is likely tight in the steel bushing and the bushing might be tight in the bellcrank. Hit it with some good penatrating oil and try to move things the next time you go out to the airport.

[Robert Lees]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

Can you post a photo of the damaged crank?

Post #3, Hank, do try to keep up!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-19 vs. Hurricane Sandy

I was kind of hoping for one of the whole crank to see if it might be different, but it may take a while to get it out. By the way, I would NOT hit it hard. 100 light taps will get you further than a single slam (like most parts that are stuck together). Sometimes it takes days of soaking with penetrating oil to get different metals to let go. What really works well is a rivet gun lightly tapping very fast while turning the two parts.
Hank