Torn from Tie-downs

[NJL]

A reminder to tie those airplanes down well. Last week my t-craft was torn from 1" webbing in 50+ kt winds in Moab Ut. The plane lifted up over a row of aircraft and slammed down and was severely damaged. A really sad day, to say the least. Been dealing AIG insurance and they have been helpful. Eventually they will be listing it for sale as salvage on thier website. Should be plenty useful parts. The C-85 w/ < 500 hrs and prop were unharmed. Maybe it will be helpful to you all. Sure enjoyed the 300hrs of flying around in the Utah backcountry. Its been such good fun. Take out there. Nick

[N95179]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Very similar thing happened to our Cessna 170 while it was parked in Redding California. Over 10k in damages. Don't use straps for tying down airplanes!! It may have a strong tensile strength, but any little abrasion or nick will tear it like paper.

I like the 7/16'' twisted nylon rope. Needs replaced every couple of years, but strong, and the knots hold well. Also in cold weather, if it's wet when frozen, the ice usually breaks right off whereas with the braided ropes it will freeze them solid.

I'm sorry for your loss!

[Guest]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Sorry for your loss.

I have always heard never use the tie down rings as the tie down point and found it to be good advice.

Wrap the rope around the strut and use the ring only for a guide.

The rings will break in a strong wind. I have witnessed it, it does happen.

Dave

[N96337]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

So sorry to hear of your loss!!!
I'd just like to add one more thing to the comments.... ALWAYS tie the aircraft TIGHTLY!!! The worst thing you can do is to leave any slack in the tiedown ropes!!!! The shockload is not only bad for the airplane, but significantly increases the chance of the rope breaking.
JH

[astjp2]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

You should see that the Ogden UT airport manager REQUIRES to tie down with chains, I asked if he wanted to buy me new spars when they crack from the jarring that chains cause. I didnt get much for a reply...I always use rope. Tim

[N95179]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Embry Riddle was the same way. All of their airplanes were tied down with chains. I wouldn't ever use them.

[astjp2]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

I wonder if they required binders also....hahaha

[crispy critter]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Go to Witchata....Cessna uses chains and binders on all there airplanes.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Yep, Navy uses chains and a nifty binder too. But way to heavy to take along. Larry

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Chains are great for ships and planes with REALLY strong landing gear. Notice that the chains are hooked to the LANDING GEAR and on a Navy plane. The gear on an A-6 are strong enough for a medium size airliner. They have to be. We didn't "land" on carriers, we FLEW into them. There was also the slight problem of the ramp and runway rocking back and forth and making high speed turns at a moments notice.
On a GA aircraft we are tying to the struts and tail wheel and, as someone else said earlier, a slightly loose chain snapping tight as the plane moves puts TREMENDOUS loads on the struts and spars. I am from Kansas and when we use chains out there it isn't to save the plane, it's to keep the wreckage on the ramp when a tornado hits (by the way, it doesn't work that well. You usually found the chain and a chunk of wing on the ramp after one hit). I NEVER used a chain on a GA plane, even in Kansas. We used ROPE and always pulled them TIGHT to keep that impulse load out of the structure. Another MAJOR mistake is to tie to the ring on the strut. That ring is to keep the rope from sliding down the strut (a light breeze will bend the strut if the rope is in the middle). Run the rope THROUGH the ring and tie to the end of the strut, then back through the ring. The rings on a Taylorcraft are just cast metal and we used to call castings "a mass of cracks in close formation". They WON'T take tie down loads!
Hank

[mhorowit]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

Run the rope THROUGH the ring and tie to the end of the strut, then back through the ring.
Hank

Forrest demonstrated running the rope through the ring, two wraps around the strut, back thru the ring and then at least one tautline hitch - MikeH

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

When I had to use chains to tie down I took the slack out of the chains with bungee cords. Truckers straps.

RonC
N96995

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

I had my Taylorcraft slightly damaged by Wind here in Alliance while I was at Sun-N-Fun, my family saved her by additional tie downs.... Just flew her alst night and now back to business... priority was keep them flying.

[Tom G]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

I have a rope on both front and rear struts. Two on each wing. I don't have tie down rings. These ropes wrap around the top of both struts. I sleep better that way.

[astjp2]

Re: Torn from Tie-downs

I installed a slightly modified cub style tie down, it looks authentic and it is super strong. It would have to shear a 5/16" bolt before it would break the tiedown. My analysis shows that the spar would fail first. Tim