Strut inspection results

[jack]

Re: Strut Inspection Results

Just had my struts tested on the aircraft by CTC of Lincoln, CA, at the airport there. $100 and the guy did a thorough job using ultra sound thickness testing only. One front one bad throughout it's length. The other front one has about a one square inch area bad. Both rear struts were ok.
Was pretty painless except for the results LOL.
Off line until tomorrow if there are questions.
DC

HI,
Did you have to have your struts down to bare metal when they were tested, or with the paint on? Jack

[flyguy]

Re: Strut Inspection Results

Struts were with even coat of "original" paint, well cleaned.
DC

[whake]

Re: Strut inspection results

The xrays look great, I would like to see a picture of the setup.I assume the film is at the bottom in a plate and the xray tube is over head and shielded.. it would be interesting to see some corrosion ...great job

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Strut inspection results

I'm thinking that bombarding my Taylorcraft with Xrays every 2 years eventually will mean: In 50 years it'll mutate into a supercub... Happy Holloween and Boo!!!
With regards; ED OBRIEN

[1938BF50]

Re: Strut inspection results

Walter,

Here is a pic of HEAVY corrosion. I am no x-ray tech. I basically took these shots myself over at the local vets. These shots were part of my test results that were not used by the FAA. R3 was HEAVILY corroded...two thru holes on other side. R1 had moderate corrosion in the bottom 2 inches.

Enjoy

[cpirrmann]

Re: Strut inspection results

I'm thinking that bombarding my Taylorcraft with Xrays every 2 years eventually will mean: In 50 years it'll mutate into a supercub... Happy Holloween and Boo!!!
With regards; ED OBRIEN

I just hope you like that loooovely green color

[captnmike71]

Re: Strut inspection results

...and his eddy current:

same thing happened to me. I ask the local FAA thugs about X ray and they said that it would not measure thickness of material

[captnmike71]

Re: Strut inspection results

local Faa tells me xrays will not work as it will not measure thickness.I've had two different shops eddy curent my struts and neither one can come up with the same reading twice

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Strut inspection results

X-Ray tells you WHERE the corrosion is, not how deep. Ultrasonic tells you how thick the material is (IF you have a standard). Eddy Current is for finding CRACKS, NOT material thickness. The crack disrupts the flow of current in the surface of the material. You are sensing the flow of small currents in the surface of the metal, NOT measuring thickness or corrosion depth. Some of the information on these threads is starting to scare me, especially if it is attributed to official sources and is WRONG.
Be careful out there guys. What makes me feel better is the inherent strength of our struts. I feel better that of all those corroded struts Harry had(some THROUGH the wall of the strut) NONE of them had failed in service.
Hank

[flyguy]

Re: Strut inspection results

Excellent summary Hank.

I think that information is available either here on the forum, spread out, or from many sources if one looks, but it needed to be said (bluntly) in one place. There does seem to be more than a bit of harum-scarum running about going on. (that isn't meant unkindly)

I would have liked to get xrays done in addition to the ultrasound, mostly for curiosity, but it would have cost more money and not changed the results any. The ultra sound told me I had a problem and where it was, and that is what I needed to know.
Darryl

[cvavon]

Re: Strut inspection results

had my struts ultrasound tested last night all four were as good as you can get they were installed in july of 1980 they were bought from the factory at a cost of $600.00 they all showed to be .051 thick the thinest spot was .049 the test was done by s&s testing in nashville took him about 2hrs cost was $150.00 he said you could pull a bulldozer with them chuck

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Strut inspection results

Was that struts off! The new AD rev will specify that the internal corrosion proofing HAS to be done. Do you have paper work on the 1980 struts? I am now trying to verify what materials were used by the Feris operation and when?

[flyguy]

Re: Strut inspection results

"The new AD rev will specify that the internal corrosion proofing HAS to be done."
Well, that is just peachy. One step forward and three steps back.
DC

[Garry Crookham]

Re: Strut inspection results

Had the stuts on my airplane tested today by Tailwind Inspection...ultrasound...all four struts were in great shape, no problems found. Attached are some pictures of the wing supports I made from a couple of pieces of 2x2x 1/8 inch angle and AN eye bolts. The piece running between the attach fittings is 36 inches long with the eye bolts on 31 inch centers. The vertical piece is around 67 inches long.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[Doc]

Re: Strut inspection results

Howdy: Bad news today...Per x-ray, N43306 (02/1946) had both rear struts failed for corrosion...front struts passed. Work was done at All American in San Antonio, TX. Doc