Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

[mikerice]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Joel-
DO NOT GET YOUR STRUTS EDDY CURRENT INSPECTED. Eddy Current is no longer an approved inspection technique in the latest revision of the service bulletin. Ultrasonic and x-ray is ok.

You are better off waiting for the revised AD.

It will reference the Taylorcraft SB 2007-001 Rev. B. If you follow the current AD and do eddy current and the AD is revised, you will have to repeat the inspection with an approved method.

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Joel, Check out the thread 'Revision B; eddy current' looks like it might not be valid.

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

As of November 6, Bob Dunn at Emery Air (800-435-8090) at the Rockford, Illinois airport said they were still waiting on delivery of a new eddy current probe.

So now I'm planning to have my struts removed here in Des Moines and drive them three hours each way on June 12 to Duncan Aviation at the Lincoln, Nebraska airport. (Ray Vieselmeyer, NDT shop, 800-228-4277.) Duncan's a corporate jet specialist with a $95/hr shop rate, so I'm wincing in advance at what the eddy current inspection might cost me. But they're the closest shop I could find that won't require an overnight trip and can get it done by the AD deadline. I'll report back with the final price tag.

Unless of course the FAA issues a revised AD disapproving the eddy current method before then.

[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

[flyguy]

Re: Strut inspection results

Sure:
Certified Testing and Conslting Services (CTC)
3144 Venture Drive, Suite 100
Lincoln, CA
95648

TEL: (916) 434-0195
Ask for Tony--manager, supervisor, owner?

[Falcon10]

Re: Strut Inspection Results

flyguy:
Can you post the info on the company in Lincoln. My 1939 is grounded for now with the mags at Arnair for rebuild. When I get her flying I will need to get the struts done. Thanks in advance.
Jim.:beerchug:

[barnstmr]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

By the way - does anyone know if the AD revision is out yet?

[barnstmr]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

TEXAS- Here's who did my inspection. They also worked with Andy McAnaul and Taylorcraft LLC to define the radiography portion of the revised service bulletin/AD.

Bryan Lancon - BRL Consultants, Inc
Nondestructive Testing (NDT) consulting ASNT NDT Level III
115 E. Rhapsody #2
San Antonio, Texas 78216
United States of America

Contact: Bryan Lancon
Tel: 210-341-3442
Fax: 210-341-2844

[alwaysoar]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

There is an outfit called Tailwind Inspection Services out of OK with satellites all over that just inspected the struts on my former airplane here in Vermont. They charge $350.00 for a set and did eddy current. We saved because they were coming to VT anyway to do some inspections on Citations. You might google them and find out if they're coming to a location near you.

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[Len Petterson]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Does anyone know where to go in Buffalo Nigara Falls NY area for strut testing? In Canada I have had prices of $600 to $1000 remove them and transport to Toronto area! :grumpy: T.D.C.
I am tempted to take them to St Lois as I can get low cost ride down.:beerchug:
Why the diffrence in price?
Is eddycurent sheeper to do?
Len
TDC = too darn costly

[M Jones]

Re: List of NDT service providers for strut AD

Hi Joel,

Mine were suppose to have been tested at Emery Air at the Rockford, IL airport, but because of some scheduling problems with my A&P, they still haven't been taken in.

It might be worth a try to contact them to see if you can drop them off on your way to Chicago. http://www.emeryair.net

Good luck, and let us know how things go.

[Joel Severinghaus]

List of NDT service providers for strut AD

For those of us planning to inspect first, and maybe order new sealed struts later, could I ask for recommendations on where to get eddy current or ultrasound testing done before November 20?

Iowa: No luck. I spoke with Doug Vaughn at Advanced Air Inc. at the Council Bluffs airport, which is apparently Iowa's only FAA Certified Repair Station for non-destructive testing. He tried to do a Taylorcraft strut inspection, but found that his older eddy current and ultrasound machines weren't sensitive enough to measure down to 0.020" wall thickness.

[10/17 update -- Also spoke with Elliott Aviation at the Des Moines airport. Their NDT technician just so happens to be a Taylorcraft owner (he's replacing all four struts after finding corrosion), but they don't have the correct low-frequency probe to do ultrasound.]

Missouri, St. Louis: My fellow Iowan Carl Carson used and recommends Quality Testing Services: www.qualitytesting.net. He said they could do the testing at the nearby Creve Coeur airport.

California, Los Angeles: Bill Berle mentioned LA X-ray. Anybody have more details about them?

22 states: Forrest Barber mentioned Acuren, whose website shows branch offices around the country: www.acuren.com. Has anybody used them?

Illinois, Chicago: I'm waiting to get an ultrasonic inspection quote from Magnetic Inspection Laboratory: www.milinc.com. I have to drive to Chicago for a conference next week, and might just take my struts in the car with me.

[10/17 update -- Nix on Magnetic Inspection Laboratory in Chicago. After reading the AD and SB I emailed, they said their ultrasound equipment couldn't do that thin a wall thickness.]

Minnesota, St. Paul: Found Stork Twin City Testing Corp. on the Web, but haven't spoken with them yet: www.storktct.com

Anybody know of other shops in states adjacent to Iowa? Preferably located at an airport?

[10/17 update -- Spoke with Duncan Aviation at the Lincoln, Nebraska airport. Emailed them the AD and SB; waiting for a price quote.]

[jmvolpp]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

I picked up N44305 struts from successful eddy current testing at IDM (in former UAL facility at IND) 4 days ago. Nice people, cool facility, cost $250. Now to complete inspection of fittings and reassemble. Opinion forthcoming when done, FWIW.

Mike V.

[AKbrew]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

OK Gang,

I spent some time on the phone with my IA today deciphering AD 2007-16-14, SB 2007-001, and the AMOC for X-Ray. We came away with a plot that has more twists and turns than a Harlequin Romance Novel that was left out in the rain on a windy day.

First "The Strange": AD 2007-16-14 DOES NOT require treatment of struts "which pass inspection using corrosion inhibitor procedure in Taylorcraft Service Bulletin No. 2007-001 or an equivalent procedure prior to returning them to service." If you follow the AD, take the struts of your airplane, and have them tested using Eddy Current or Ultrasound and they pass...you are good to go.

Now the "Bad News": The AMOC approving x-ray as a method of inspection DOES REQUIRE "treatment of struts which pass inspection using corrosion inhibitor procedure in Taylorcraft Service Bulletin No. 2007-001 or an equivalent procedure prior to returning them to service." SB 2007-001 reads as follows: CORROSION INHIBITOR PROCEDURE:
Before installing reusable struts, treat each strut for internal corrosion protection per the following procedure:
a. Inject one quart of warm raw Linseed Oil, Paralketone or CRC3 (LPS Heavy Duty Rust Inhibitor Type 3) into the strut.
b. Plug open holes in the strut and slosh oil until interior of strut is thoroughly coated.
c. Drain oil from strut through an open hole.
d. Reinstall strut on aircraft and check rigging per LIFT STRUT WING LEVELING PROCEDURE below.
That's right folks...to comply with SB 2007-001 you must REMOVE the struts from the aircraft. To comply with the AMOC for X-ray you must comply with SB 2007-001. (At this point the IA is saying "well...that doesn't make much sense.")

And now "The Good News": The IA said the corrosion inhibitor procedure really isn't that big of a deal because you can do it by removing ONE STRUT AT A TIME. You take one off, slosh some of the treating oil around the inside of it, put it back on, then take the next one off. According to the IA, doing them one at a time eliminates the need to re-rig everything (that's him talking...I don't have a clue).

So...bottom line is the way the AMOC is currently written you don't have to remove the struts for the X-ray (very convenient since they can come right out to your hangar or tie-down spot and do the x-ray), BUT you have to remove one strut at a time to slosh the oil around inside them. (Actually, your A&P)

That's all I know so far (probably even more than I know!). No luck getting a copy of the actual AMOC procedure from Alaska X-ray...hey, it's Friday and hunting season in Alaska, what did you expect? I'll try to get in touch with them on Monday.

Tomorrow I drive to Kenai to pick up my new (to me) Edo 1400 floats. Yeehaw! Maybe by next summer I can post a cool picture like Dano T and Dick Smith. The Dalmatians will have to stay home this time though...not enough room in the back of the truck for dogs AND the Landes skis!

[VictorBravo]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Struts were on. Attached is the letter from the FAA approving their AMOC.

Fan-Tastic !! Good job AKBrew !!!

My local X-ray place will be supplying me today with the procedure used on our five ships here in Los Angeles... I'll be sending that along to Andy McAnaul as soon as I get it.

Thanks for posting the letter. Perhaps you can also post the actual procedure that they accepted, so that others can use it as a basis for getting an AMOC of their own.

Bill Berle