Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Hi Bill, just a question, does this mean you'll get rid of you signature line, Friends don't let friends fly nosewheel aircraft???

(sorry, off topic)
I dunno. I may have to. Looking at several off-airport videos of the plane I can see a case for building it with the nosewheel. The shape of the fuselage REALLY does not lend itself to a tailwheel on that design. The way the plane is landed on short curved roads and such in the video makes me think that a good heavy duty nosewheel setup might be a necessary evil for this airplane.

Then again there is a tailwheel option sold by the factory, but it re-uses the existing main gear which makes the plane look even uglier (if that's possible).

I did a little amateur photo bashing on a picture of one of the customer built tailwheel versions. I lengthened the main gear, rotated the plane to ah igher ground angle, and changed thenose art from Betty Boop to Bugs Bunny. Check out this "artists concept" of what a taller tailwheel 701 might look like.

[T.Taylor]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

OH MY, that is too cool, go fur et, T.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

After reading a few posts over the last months, from people who are still concerned with removing their struts (to inspect the fuselage fitting or just take the struts off for testing), I finally finished the second draft of a suggested method to remove the struts. (first draft was posted a couple of months ago). If anyone's interested I'm glad to e-mail it or re-post it. If the Foundation or FAA wants to use it they are welcome. This procedure is presented in what should be hopefully idiot-proof detail.

[Don]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Hi Bill, I will take you up on your offer to Email this info to me.

My Email is [email protected]

Thanks so much for the generous offer

Don

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

This is the current version of the document I wrote concerning safe and sane removal of struts, for inspection of the struts or lower fitting. Inexperienced mechanics please do not be put off by the detail and length of the instructions, all that detail actually makes it simpler.

Eventually, I will add photos to this document and turn it into an illustrated mini-manual (like Rob did with the brakes). At one time I wrote instruction manuals (R/C model airplanes) so I am all set up to do it in a presentable format.

For what it's worth, your comments, suggestions and additions/deletions are very very welcome. It's intended that after this method is field tested and fully de-bugged, it can be made into a recommended or authorized procedure acceptable to the Foundation and the FAA. I may or may not use every suggestion, and I may or may not fight like hell to defend my own methods, but all suggestions will be sincerely considered.

General Disclaimer ! Although the legality of an individual owner removing the struts (to take them in for X-ray, etc.) without an A&P present is fairly defensible, a non-mechanic owner re-installing them without the supervision of a licensed mechanic is not permissible by current FAR's. So this method is only partially "legal" for a non-mechanic owner to do by himself. However I stand by my position that this method will be of some usefulness to any licensed mechanic who is not experienced with Taylorcrafts, and will serve to help any mechanic prevent damage to the aircraft.

[fearofpavement]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Bill, nice job and great detail.

A couple of suggestions: one would be to remove reference to eddy current inspection under #5 since that is no longer an approved method. (would just help to reduce confusion as it was and then wasn't, etc.)

The other suggestion would be to utilize the pins mentioned in #10 in steps 3 and 4. ie, tap out the bolts on both ends of the struts and leave in place the easily removed pins (drifts, punches, etc) That way one isn't wrestling with a stuck bolt with the other end of the strut free.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Bill, nice job and great detail.

A couple of suggestions: one would be to remove reference to eddy current inspection under #5 since that is no longer an approved method. (would just help to reduce confusion as it was and then wasn't, etc.)

The other suggestion would be to utilize the pins mentioned in #10 in steps 3 and 4. ie, tap out the bolts on both ends of the struts and leave in place the easily removed pins (drifts, punches, etc) That way one isn't wrestling with a stuck bolt with the other end of the strut free.

JACKPOT ! Thanks! That is an excellent idea, I will incorporate it into the document. Keep the ideas coming...

Bill

[Greg Bockelman]

Moved from the Attach Point Results Thread.

How can I make it any clearer, do the inspection per the SB........ I believe that will comply with the AD ( if there is one).

Sorry, Forrest. I didn't mean to get your dander up but your first sentence in this thread,

The Revision for the Attach fitting inspection SB 2007-002 issued Nov 8th, 2007 will have a new importance shortly.

sort of muddied the water in my mind.

I am 90% it will comply

As does THAT statement. All I was trying to do was clarify to the best of your ability. And it isn't TOTALLY irrelevant to the thread.

I am 99.9 % it will become an AD...... soon!!
Please keep this thread for data input......

Of that, I am sure.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Keep the other thread for data as much as possible, dander up!!
You should come here and answer the phones, to maintain my trust with the NTSB & the FAA I cannot & will not reveal some information till it is final on the docket.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

I'm going to close this one for a while. The NPRM has been issued...see this thread.

Rob