Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

[Forrest Barber]

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

The Elves were busy during the night!! Thanks David , I ran into your Dad at Lowe's last night ( we were getting Lowe's PMA parts) .
He mentioned that you were having him redraw the plate for posting. GOOD WORK! THIS time I will save it correctly.

I still bet that is .032 aluminum not .031 , (

[dewhitaker]

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

If all goes well, this attachment should be a word document you can print out and use as a full size template to make a removable inspection plate. A couple of tips: I used a small nail and heated it to put the hole in the fabric for the screw. Also, two sided tape on the backing plate holds it in place so it stays put when you remove the screw holding the cover on.

[dewhitaker]

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

Tribe, yes I made a fairing for the strut attach point. Dad made a drawing that can be used as a full size template to make a set. I will get down to the airport over the next couple of days and shoot some pics and post the drawing.

Hey Forrest, saw the posting about the strut inspection plans, sounds good. Will call you later to get the date and time.

[Forrest Barber]

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

David Whitaker and Dad Lou did just that I have one here for mine. Will try to get David to re post. They are .032 aluminum and look real nice. off to a party now, will at least scan tomorrow.

[Pearson]

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

Has anyone tried to fabricate an aluminum cover, instead of patching the fabric after complying with the SB on the strut attach fitting? I know this will detract from the originality of the aircraft, but I just hate seeing fabric patches on a fabric airplane. I would rather see an inspection cover than a patch. On my vertical stab there is a large square hole with this plastic glued around the edge. An aluminum plate is attached using PK screws that go into the plastic.

Does anyone see anything wrong with doing something similar around the strut attach fitting? You could use two pieces of aluminum, one on the side and one on the bottom of the fuselage. They could overlap just in front of and behind the actual fitting and be secured to the plastic in the edge and to each other with small screws.

Once again, I am fully aware that this masacres the original appearance. But from a practical standpoint, until we know for sure if this is going to be a recurring inspection, this is a way for us to comply with the SB and not have our aircraft look like a patched up crate. Then when we recover, hopefully after we know the final outcome of this mess, we can return the plane to it's original beauty.

Opinions, suggestions, comments???

[Forrest Barber]

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

The center section was the object of a lot of discussion that is the part the NTSB wants to have inspected completely. Many phone calls on that one. Plus we tried digital radiography too.
All this is Operator ( read as technician, A&P, IA, repair station, etc.) knowledgeable opinion , I know a lot of us know WHAT to look for but how to put it into the form of wording was the problem.
THEN we see the revised AD on the struts with a lot of FAA legal jargon now included.

[whake]

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

I cut the required clearance in the fabric and added the reenforcement patch did some borscope checking. I intend to do more when the struts are removed this week. I also made a mirror which works pretty good except for the center section when the struts are in place... The front struts from Univair are about 1/4 inch larger than the original struts on my plane...The attachment so far looks great..see attached pictures

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

I have left mine in that cut away condition for about 25 years. I doubt it slows the plane down much and it does keep it dry an visible.

[Frank DeBartolo]

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

Is thie strut fairing fitting something we can fabricate? Is there a picture of the fairing?

Frank

[Forrest Barber]

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

The fairing is cosmetic and makes it real easy to look again once in a while. The cutting away of the fabric insures that it is not "tucked up " into then fitting like a wedgee.... that is another phonetic spelling ; GOT it Darryl, I had not remembered that word!

[Frank DeBartolo]

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

My IA inspected my strut fittings per the latest service bulletin and told me that they were in great shape. Makes me feel good. He cut the fabric away from the fitting and reinforced it with another peice of fabric around where it was cut away. There is approximately a 3/4 inch opening all around the strut fitting. I guess it will keep the fitting area dry if left that way. Will this new fairing be needed or should I keep the fabric the way it is?

Frank D
N43684

[flyguy]

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

It's my phonetic version of the material used in the "Doomsday Machine" in the movie Doctor Strangelove, you know, about the B-52's. I thought all pilots knew that, LOL.
Yeah, being a young trusting newbie buyer I really got burned on my first BC12, so I agree with you on that point.
Darryl

[Forrest Barber]

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

what ever that is!!
WE have fought long and hard to keep it a visual inspection lets get the junk fuselages out of the system. They are out there passed along by greedy owners to unsuspecting buyers. IMHO it will remain a visual.
Make it a good one.

[flyguy]

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

Probably be an AD to have it Xrayed (or radiographed with Balcorium X)
DC

[Forrest Barber]

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

NOW back to the attach fitting. YES comply with it according to the SB ; Lou & Dave Whitaker came up with a nice plate to go over the area where the fabric is cut away in case it is not a good time to patch with fabric.
I have a sample and Dave did a nice sketch that I could not find tonight on the home computer. Will find tomorrow OR Dave jump in and post here. that is .032 aluminum. The reason we think it may become an AD is to insure that we INSPECT that area. SB is not mandatory. THIS one ( IMHO) is.
I truly felt that we would not find the amount of bad struts that we have found so far
I hope it is not the same for the Strut Attach Fittings.