Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

[Dano"T"]

When it move the wing tip up and down I hear clunk-clunk at the spar attach. The torque tube moves up and down....anyone have this happen? It must be loose in the spar and holes are probably getting oblong.

[Guest]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

When it move the wing tip up and down I hear clunk-clunk at the spar attach. The torque tube moves up and down....anyone have this happen? It must be loose in the spar and holes are probably getting oblong.

What is a "torque tube" ?

Dave

[astjp2]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Compression strut?

[Guest]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Dan,

There is something really wrong.

It needs a thorough inspection of that fitting and all others.

Do not fly it until you get the inspections and repairs.

Dave

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

I have not seen an issue with where you describe, but I have seen a issue at the fuselage strut attach point that will go clunk clunk when lifting the wingtip. The bolt hole becomes elongated in the webs on the strut attach fitting. This elongation is more common in the webs for the front strut.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Oops...compression strut, I will be cutting two new inspection rings and trying to pinpoint the trouble. It is definitely the fitting moving in the spar....either it's loose and now the holes in the wood have oblonged or god forbid the spar is cracked. The next step will be removing the wings and cutting a nice area open to get a good visual and make room for repairs. I hope it doesn't come down to an entire wing rebuild.

[VanDy]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

I remember at a Tcraft flyin years ago Forrest giving a demonstration on this and he lead to believe that it is usually a cracked spar. I hope its nothing serious and you can get back in the air soon.

[VanDy]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

I remember at a Tcraft flyin years ago Forrest giving a demonstration on this and he lead to believe that it is usually a cracked spar. I hope its nothing serious and you can get back in the air soon.

[ricky]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Before youcut check all the bolt from the bolts n fuselege especially by the step,it could get lose,as im doing inspection on mine,found step on the right seam to get loose.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Cracked spars...both front spars just inboard off the attach fittings fear not ... I have a spare set complete with beefed up Harer STC mods....swaperooo and I'll rebuild at my leisure. Having 4 taylorcraft (2 pre war and 2 46's) I will have to take the wings off my flying bc12d on wheels for this...but I can just fly my cub .....it's on wheels too!

[barnstmr]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Dano... Too bad you have this problem to deal with.

But Thank God you found it through routine pre-flight type of inspection.... and not the worse way. Thank you for sharing this and thank you for for giving us all an example of how important is to "KNOW" your airplane, and its quirks and especially the sounds of trouble. Things that go "clunk" must surely be checked out.

Now... I am being nosey.... was there any one incident or occurrence that may have caused this? .... groundloop... high speed pullup... aerobatics??? Not trying to put you on the spot. But just thought it might help others to know... in the interest of safety.

Best wishes for your repair and re-work efforts.

[PA1195]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Could there have been an excessive load of snow on the wings at some time? Very common in snow country like the UP (was born there) and Alaska.

Gary

[Dano"T"]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Last fall I was on Lake Superior ... The wind started to pick up so I hurriedly took off....I was in a remote location so I probably pushed it by taking off in more chop than I would have....i put the plane away right after that and did not inspect it until now so I can't be sure....but i hit one wave hard enough that I cringed....bet that did it.

[PA1195]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

Last fall I was on Lake Superior ... The wind started to pick up so I hurriedly took off....I was in a remote location so I probably pushed it by taking off in more chop than I would have....i put the plane away right after that and did not inspect it until now so I can't be sure....but i hit one wave hard enough that I cringed....bet that did it.

I wonder if that was the reason, but it's hard to really know now. I've done lots of float flying in planes (a few with wood spars like T-Craft and Citabrias) off rough water but maybe I was lucky. They do move around some even with metal wings and spars.

If the g-load from the waves was enough to bend the spar and cause a compression fracture (?), but you'd think the wing would be lifting by then from the wind and the fuselage and float fittings would have suffered some deformation as well.

Was the crack on top or bottom of the spars? Might post a pic so we can look for that type and area.

Can you discount any previous damage from snow loads? Like always hangared? Was born in Escanaba and lived in the Soo. Saw lots of snow as a kid in the '50's. Probably still does it.

Gary

[Guest]

Re: Strut attach fittings. Clunk-clunk

DanoT,

Do the cracked wings have tube installed between the front and rear life strut attach fittings just above the lift strut attach point?

There should be a tube installed there and it has a long wire with threads on the ends that goes thru it and hold it in place as well as keeping the strut attach fittings pressed up against it.

Dave