tapered axle landing gear inspection

[Guest]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

And Taylorcraft struts have not failed (to my knowledge).

Rob

Yes Rob, and that is the proof that the AD was needed.

Dave

[astjp2]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

I just love it when I spawn a conversation!

[jstall]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

didn't people say that about struts before the AD?

Speaking of struts, do we have any figures on how many if any strut failures the Taylorcraft has had? And how many wing departures it has had

This would be very interesting information

JS

[Guest]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

Just one pre-AD failure.

oops see Hank's and Tim's posts below, what I said above is technically incorrect.

Dave

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

As far as I could find when the inspection was first put out, there had NEVER been a failure of a strut (if someone knows of one, please share with the group). there HAD been wing and strut failures, in fact I was there for one, but they were NOT from corrosion or design failure. If your strut hits a tree stump or a tire goes in a ditch bashing your strut, that is NOT a design failure. The crash that started the whole mess turned out to be a failure of the lower longeron at the strut attach, NOT the strut. We looked at several struts that had holes you could put your fingers in and they still appeared strong enough in tension to fly (net area remaining was enough for the design load). NOT that anyone in any state of mind short of suicidal would fly a plane with actual open holes in the strut!
The whole strut inspection was a rip off executed by the guy who owned the TC at the time. He had a pile of struts outside in the mud with holes rusted in them......but NOT ONE had separated.

[astjp2]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

actually it was an experimental on floats and the strut attach fitting is what failed, not the struts..

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

There were several who called it an "experimental" but that is an insult to experimental airplanes. It was several Taylorcrafts grafted together and from what some one with FAA and NTSB contacts said it was out of annual and had some REALLY screwed up paperwork. I think it was an instructor and student, both of whom were killed when the struts pulled out and a wing folded over the top.

Nothing wrong with the safety of many of the "Frankensteins" out there (planes with mixed parts), but you can't mix un-airworthy parts from several planes and try to create a new one, then not properly maintain or inspect it. From what I heard, this plane had so many problems beyond the corroded out longerons and fittings I wouldn't have sat in it while chained to the ground.

[PA1195]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

Is this the individual who is being discussed? http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...1344#post31344

There's a lesson here if so.

Gary

[M Towsley]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

http://www.ntsb.gov/about/employment/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20070808X01147&key=1&queryId=4e05db49-54d9-4aa0-98d3-b5761f8ac5a9&pgno=10&pgsize=50

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiley%27s_Seaplane_Port

http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=90125

[M Towsley]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

A picture of the plane involved.

[PA1195]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

Thanks Marty for the links. I hadn't put the details together before, but did note the fuselage fitting AD and current compliance in my logs. We pulled the lower strut ends this summer and had yet another look. Mine is primed internally with epoxy that covers the fuselage but I still pumped some Corrosion-X in there to make double sure. The adjacent internal tubing look un-corroded as well.

Seems the RIP owner was also the maintenance person. Sometimes it's a good idea to step back and let others climb like monkeys over your stuff inspecting it for whatever. What's really entertaining is to find a chair and let a couple of mechanics go at it over the airworthiness of your plane. Good learning time in my experience when they try to beat each to finding something. I've always come away better off than before.

Oh forgot to add: Whenever I get ramped I ask the folks to look it over real good so I can correct any discrepancies. Not many bother but a few have noted something that's been for the better.

Gary

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

I still think that GROUP annuals are worth their weight in gold. Other Taylorcraft owners are GREAT at finding things that "aren't quite right". I have an open invitation to anyone to come and look my plane over, especially at annual. Many have taken me up. I also really enjoy helping anyone else open their plane up for annual (even not Ts). Saves them some money, the IA some work and we all end up learning things.
I have yet to get or help with an annual that we didn't find SOMETHING, even if it is just a questionable safety wire. We did a few where we has several T owners helping on one and that was one clean airplane when we were done, plus we all had a GREAT time.

[PA1195]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

Good post Hank and the longer I own and fly the more I ask others to have a look. This last annual my mechanic had an A&P student from the local school helping in the shop. Sharp student found a few things and asked some real good questions I never would have though of. I'm just too close and familiar with the airplane to notice sometimes, and the shop owner has his routine and priority points to go over at each inspection.

Gary

[N96337]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

I always tell my customers that they're going to another mechanic every few years for their annual. It's good to have a new set of eyes on things...we all see things a little different.
John

[Ragwing nut]

Re: tapered axle landing gear inspection

If you saw pics of that airplane, it should have never been flying to begin with.