Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Strut AD alternate methods of compliance

Hopefully by tomorrow or Wed we will have more information.
The attach fitting situation is being made a standard thing to do during a 100 hr or Annual inspection to look for any corrosion or lack of maintenance.
I will make an attempt to post a couple more examples of bad fittings.
12 & 13 are bad. 2 & 3 are more normal with annotations.

Hopefully the factory site and our own web site will have things to look for during inspection, I think they are self evident, any mechanic should be able to spot a problem. Note the famous drain hole.

Then we see a couple of normal fittings that need to have paint and or fabric stripped back for more inspection . These are all courtesy of NTSB, FAA Andy McAnaul and the Taylorcraft factory Harry Ingram . I thank all who contributed. I will post my own inspections here in Alliance as we do them.

[Forrest Barber]

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

I have to go away a bit today, ECOPA stuff... I sold the Model A and have to gather up the stuff for new owner for tomorrow.

I did want to post one other photo regarding the strut attach fitting inspection, it is a typical fitting with fabric & paint that needs the fabric cut back a bit for inspection and the paint stripped too! Not a lot of work but well worth it!

[alwaysoar]

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

Forrest referred to the "famous" drain hole. 1st time I heard of it. He also referred to an SB on the fuselage strut fitting; what SB? Please explain.

Ed@BTV VT
TF527

[Forrest Barber]

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

Yes it is another of the numerous maintenance items we point out at each Fly-In for the past 35 years, the Taylorcraft lubrication sheet is used also.

This whole 8 page thread is about the Strut attach fitting that failed with a double fatality. READ it all and check for the revised SL that will be a SB this week!!

[Ragwing nut]

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

I have to go away a bit today, ECOPA stuff... I sold the Model A and have to gather up the stuff for new owner for tomorrow.

I think Wally Black is now trying to corner the market on "A" models. He already has a hanger full of Stearman projects. How much for a front and rear metal spar? I may have Wally bring it back for me. I have a pair of BC12-D metal spar wings and one wing has been ground looped. He lives about 30 miles from me. Not to far from Chet either.

Mike

[alwaysoar]

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

Surprise, not everyone can make it to Alliance to the fly-in! I have received no SL in the mail. If you don't belong to this Forum, how do you get the latest?

Frankly, I am very tired of oblique references to things only insiders know about. This club is a clique of insiders who can communicate in Forrest-speak, and the rest of us try to make sense of it all. I have read every posting in the 8 pages and I am offended by Forrest's sarcasm.


Ed@BTV VT
TF527

[VictorBravo]

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

I mentioned tis before regarding a possible AD/SB solution for the lower fuselage, and I'd like to mention it again if it's OK with everyone...

Someone needs to come up with a fiberglass or Lexan plastic fairing or cover plate that fits around the lower strut fuselage fitting, so the fabric can be cut back an inch around this fitting for inspection.

It doesn't have to be a big swoopy fillet hand-hammered out of beer cans, it can keep the existing fuselage contour so the appearance of the airplane is not changed.

A swoopy fillet that covers the fitting and keeps water and dirt OUT of it ain't such a bad idea, though.

But either way it should be something that can come off with tape or screws or a spring-hook at annual time, and allow the fabric to be cut away for a clear view.

The cover has to have a good sized drain hole, and a "reverse scoop" so water and junk doesn't splash into the hole. a small screen can be glued in to keep bugs out.

My idea is to use a fiberglass or plastic frame that gets glued into the fabric before the fabric is cut away, same idea as an inspection hole ring when you're recovering.

I'll be glad to help do it, but there are probably better and faster craftsmen here than have a fuselage sitting in their shop they can use more easily.

[robbie]

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

The service letter has been posted here, and it's posted on the Factory web
site. The t-craft web site is doing a good job posting all the information about the fittings and struts letters.
Good job Tayorcraft, Now why don't you get your struts prices down a little so as poor folks can afford them.

[alwaysoar]

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

Yes, I've read the service letter, but where is the REVISED SL that will soon be an SB that Forrest said was in the 8 pages of this thread? That's not on Taylorcraft.com either.

[alwaysoar]

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

Also, in the 8 pages of this thread, the first mention of the "famous" drain hole, that I assume would be a critical item to check in any inspection of the fuselage fitting, does not appear in the thread before page 8 or anywhere else that I can find. Or is this an inside joke?

My displeasure with the way all this is going down notwithstanding, the pictures are worth a thousand confusing words.

[DanBrown]

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

I sent the following email to [email protected]:

"I am a Taylorcraft owner of a 1940 BC-65, N26625. In reviewing the
photographs and commentary (posted on the Taylorcraft internet forum) on
the seaplane strut attachement failure of July 28, 2007, where the left
wing of a Taylorcraft Model BF12-65 seperated in flight I would like to
make the following comments:
1. Corrosion at that point is much more likely in seaplane than
landplane operation of a Taylorcraft.
2. The corrosion of the fitting was so blatant that it is hard to see
how it would not have been seen on an adequate pre-flight inspection,
let alone on a proper annual inspection of the aircraft.
3. There seems to be no necessity for additional inspection of
non-float equipped Taylorcrafts beyond taking out the seat of the
aircraft and probing the fitting for cracks and corrosion at annual
inspection time. If any indication of problems are found, then
replacement and/or repair would be indicated.
4. My aircraft had some internal corrosion of the struts after visual
inspection, so they are being replaced according to AD 2007-16-14, but
there is no indication of corrosion in any of the strut attachments or
other structural parts of the aircraft.

I submit that an AD on the strut fittings in not needed. In my opinion,
the proper regulatory response to the accident would be to follow up on
the quality of maintenance and inspections of this particular aircraft."

Less than one hour later, I received the following email:

"Mr. Brown,

Thank you for your email. You bring up some good points, many shared by
others as well. The NTSB and FAA are evaluating the evidence and
circumstance of the accident. While a final determination has not been
made, your comments, as well as those of others, will be considered in any
decision that proposes further action. Thank you again for taking the time
to send your comments.

Andy McAnaul"

This rapid and reasoned response deserves thanks and a

[jmvolpp]

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

In response to rcefird's query of a week ago as to how much fabric to remove to inspect the strut/gear fitting, attached is picture of one of N44305's after completion of the inspection as per the TC factory service letter. Someone opined that it wasn't much of a job, but I would beg to differ - it was a tedious chore cleaning the fittings and tubing to bare metal, and required several hours to do so, not helped in the least by the D-1 model having only one door! In addition to removing fabric (remember to mask the area to protect the paint), the seat needs removal, including the front rail of the sling, as does the side kick panels and the floor. You'll find that not 100% of either of the fittings can be visualized unless the gear is removed, especially on the left side, but the 90+% that is visible is plenty enough to satisfy the intent of the inspection. Once bare metal was exposed, the rest was pretty quick and easy, with no cracks or corrosion found. The new opening at the rear of the fitting will require cover with a fairing, yet to be fabricated. Anyone out there about to recover his bird would be well advised to avoid covering the fitting with fabric, or stuffing loose ends of fabric into the fitting, both of which apparently is common practice, and had been done on N44305. Hopefully, enough positive reports will be accumulated to dash any notion of another ill advised AD.

Mike V.

[robbie]

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

We (my IA and myself) checked the strut fittings today.
I got carried away and pulled up the floor to look at all of the tubing under the seat and floor.
Didn't look bad for 23 years since rebuilt.
We were able to inspect the underside of the fitting using a mirror and light.
It was a little dirty around the fitting which I cleaned. The paint was holding well on the tubing and fittings. After checking the fittings it was noted they were in good shape and now we can move on to the struts fiasco.

[rcefird]

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

Thanks Mike V. for the picture of your inspected strut attach fitting. A picture is worth a thousand words. I have cut back the fabric on mine and have almost the exact same view. Any tips, shortcuts on getting old paint off and new on? Anyone else have tips on making this as easy as possible, and ending up with a good, safe repair? Thanks again.
Randy E.

[jmvolpp]

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

Randy, I used pocketknife, screwdriver, small utility knife, emery cloth, Scotch Brite pad, large hemostat, safety wire, wire brush, and a cordless Dremel tool. Also masking tape and cardboard to protect the fabric. A creeper to lay on and roll-about stool help, too. I suspect paint remover would speed the process up, but I resisted using it for fear of getting it someplace I didn't want and/or being unable to remove all of it. Be sure to include a couple gallons of elbow grease!

Mike V.