Strut inspection results

[Robert Lees]

As struts are officially inspected in accordance with the AD, can we share the results of the inspections here?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Strut inspection results

Here's Terry's X-ray results:

Here is the beauty of radiography... BRL Consultants has re-usable film plates that are really the key to keeping the cost down. Find a shop with this capability if you can. By re-useable, I mean that the image is transferred to the plate, which can then be loaded into a scanner device.
The scanner digitizes the image for reading on the PC. Images can then be enhanced, zoomed, etc... then saved as regular jpeg images.

This is truly the only way to go in my mind. You can see inside your struts and know what you've got.

Notice that the smaller image is zoomed and enhanced in an area that showed to bw suspect on the larger image.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Strut inspection results

...and his eddy current:

Here is Eddy Current

Readings of the same test plate six times...each time different signature. Not repeatable.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Strut inspection results

...and VB's results:

Today we had the mobile X-ray tech come out and X-ray FIVE Taylorcrafts at our local airport.

I am glad to say that all five airplanes (one L-2, a 1940 and a 1941 B model, two '46 BC-12D's) did not show any evidence of significant corrosion.

Each airplane got four pictures. Left and right lower 12 inches of both struts (including attach fitting), and left/right inside fuselage tubes at the lower attach cluster just inboard from the attach fitting.

What I'd like to point out here is that the X-ray showed a perfect visual record of the inside of the struts, and a perfect visual record of the inside of the cluster. The X-ray tech was FAA certified inspecting everything up to and including jet airliners. He pointed out that any corrosion would appear as dark colored blotches, cracks would appear as dark jagged lines, and then explained the minor blemishes on the films that were due to the processing machine and had nothing to do with the structure.

The test was performed with the struts in place. The films were very clear and would have showed any corrosion that was "hiding" in the nooks and crannies of the fittings, bolt holes, etc. The X-ray tech was even able to comment on the quality of the welds when the strut was built.

All five of us invested the money (less than $250 each) because we were convinced that (regardless of the SB and AD) X-ray would deliver the best and most useful indication of the primary enemy we were hunting - corrosion inside the struts and fuselage structure. We were not concerned with wall thickness or internal flaws in the steel. The reason is that if no corrosion showed on the X-ray, then there would be nothing to reduce or diminish the wall thickness.

We five have gambled a small amount of money on the bet that we would eventually get X-ray accepted as an alternate method of compliance. Even if it was not accepted (we'll fight like hell, I'm here to tell you), the X-ray apparently will still have given us the most peaceful night sleep of all the test methods, and we would likely know more about the level of safety in our individual aircraft structures than what the FAA-approved method would give us.

If the FAA does not have a legitimate reason to bar X-ray as an acceptable compliance on this, then they should accept the X-ray because it appears to be a better tool for finding corrosion. If they do have a legitimate reason for barring X-ray, (my mind is open to listen, Mr. MacAnaul) the time for them to explain it is NOW.

If I can figure out how to use my scanner to scan what is essentially a negative, I'll try to post the films in a day or so.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Strut inspection results

...and Dano T's results:

Guys,

I had my struts inspected.....I have a BC12D-85 on floats. It lives outside all summer on my lake and has not been re-covered since 1981. The struts did not have even a hint of corrosion in them. My IA started by taking some stainless wire and probing into the vent holes.....the wire never even showed a discoloration on the tip from surface rust of any kind. My IA said the struts looked like new. So I wonder again....If my plane sits outside on the water all summer (and sometimes in the winter on skiis....then where did these rusty struts (with rust through the thickness) come from....Salty seaside areas? Alongside a barn where the filled up with water as the seasons passed and corroded from the inside out? My plane has 26 years on a re-cover.....has spent 10 summers outside on floats in Minnesota and Upper Peninsula of Michigan.....and my struts look like new. Please report to all of us on the condition your planes as they are inspected......Makes me wonder where these rusty struts come from....and how many actually came from a flying plane.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Strut inspection results

Good information , keep it coming. The NDT lab up here is coming to visit me in Alliance on Mon or Tues....more on them in a moment.

[barnstmr]

Re: Strut inspection results

Mike Cushway's results should be added here.

[Martin Hickin]

Re: Strut inspection results

Where do we get those from,Terry? Have I missed one?

[VictorBravo]

Re: Strut inspection results

The things I do for you bums !

Today I took my X-ray films to Office Max to have them scanned. They could not scan an X-ray, it came out black.

Then I went to Kinko's to have them scanned. They could not do it. The girl said I could try going to the dentist's office down the street, maybe they had a way to put X-rays on a disk.

Dr. Cho's Dental Office did not have the machine to do it. Try the other dentist office across the street. It took four tries until I realized Dr. Cho was trying to say "digital X-ray" instead of "Distal X-ray".

The dentist across the street didn't have the capability. Try the other dentist a mile away on the other side of the street.

The dentist's office next to the Chinese restaurant did have the digital scanner that would see an X-ray. The young guy at the front desk with the perfect white teeth and dressed neat as a pin said that they don't normally deal with airplane X-rays. I smiled back, noticing noticed his perfect fingernails had what appeared to be clear polish on them. I smiled again and started telling him about the Young Eagles program, and how this antique princess of an airplane has brought so much joy to kids. He smiled back at me for just a little too long and said to bring the X-rays behind the counter and he would try.

I mentioned that I'd gladly pay ten or twenty bucks if he could to it for me.

He smiled at me again and I believe he was about to discuss an Alternate Method of Compliance.

I got the digital X-ray images on a disk, and for only twenty bucks and a handshake instead.

Let this be the day that you all know I spent three hours driving around, and almost took it in the shorts, for the greater good of the Taylorcraft !

Here are my strut X-Rays. They are 99.9% clean, save for one tiny spot that the X-Ray tech said could be a tiny spot of rust. He looked at the lower struts and the fuselage fitting, and he said it's absolutely safe to fly in his FAA approved Level Three NDT/Radiography opinion.

[N96337]

Re: Strut inspection results

Those are great, Bill! I'd say worth the risk!! It looks to me like you even got a little look at your attach fitting..too bad the camera wasn't just a little tilted.
JH

[tawadc95]

Re: Strut inspection results

Mega cool Bill!
I want to x-ray mine now as well,maybe I will find a baby L2 in the womb.
That looks like an interesting career.
Thanks for the effort

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Strut inspection results

Good work Bill...for the rest of you. An Epson 4490 scanner (typical home verson from Staples) does a terrific job of scanning films, negatives, slides etc. The only nasty limitation is size. You might have to piece the scan but with Paint Shop Pro or Photo Shop it is a simple job.

Flying the last couple of days has been terrific. Just not enough of it.
I have a neighbor who closes up with me in the evening and we drift around watching the colors, usually touching down about 2 minutes before sundown. I keep looking for another T-Craft to join up, but you never do. Where the hell are you?

RonC
N 96995

[selje]

Re: Strut inspection results

To get digital images of an X-ray, just go to a hospital radiology department or doctor's office with a light box. Hang the films on the light box and use your digital camera with close-up setting to take images. Very little cost and good images.

[mhorowit]

Re: Strut inspection results

Good work Bill...for the rest of you. An Epson 4490 scanner (typical home verson from Staples) does a terrific job of scanning films, negatives, slides etc. The only nasty limitation is size. You might have to piece the scan but with Paint Shop Pro or Photo Shop it is a simple job.


RonC
N 96995

HP ScanJet also

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Strut inspection results

HP ScanJet also

UH OH Doctor! Looks like another case of CLS! (Chronic Lawnchair Syndrom).