Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

[bashibazouk]

Sorry for posting this in two places, but I didn't think it would be seen as much in the "sticky" on the AD. (I agree.../Rob)

Anybody seen a fitting that looks like this? This is a shot of the back side of the left lift strut fitting after blasting. It looks to me almost like the thing was punched from the back or maybe mis-punched in manufacture?

Despite the back boss being tweaked the way it is, there's no axial play in the bolt when it's inserted-- not sure if that's due to the integrity of the front boss. Anybody want to render an opinion about whether the whole fitting will need to be replaced?

Thanks in advance,

Josh

[Guest]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

That needs to be repaired

[VictorBravo]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Fill the bad hole back up with weld, then drill/ream from the front using the front (presumably good) holes as the jig. Unless there is other damage there should be no reason you cannot re-use that fitting and not have to remove it. Just make sure it's a good weld/fill with good penetration.

[Guest]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

filling holes with welding rod is not an approved repair practice, see ac43.13-1b

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

That never happened at the factory. Filling in with weld is not the way. That whole area needs inspected , I think there is a crack on the right side too.....
I would clean and x-ray it all. An approved repair ( welded in washers) may be possible but you may want to replace the fitting completely.

[Guest]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

btw- do a real good job of cleaning out the blast sand from you landing gear joints/hinges, the control cables, pulleys and cable guides inside the fuselage. It will cause accelerated wear and possible cable failure.

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

That never happened at the factory. Filling in with weld is not the way. That whole area needs inspected , I think there is a crack on the right side too.....I would clean and x-ray it all. An approved repair ( welded in washers) may be possible but you may want to replace the fitting completely.

After looking at the pic's on the other thread. I too think I see a crack in the RH(ie. aft) top inboard corner of the slot for the rear strut.

Dave

[Pearson]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Wow! It looks like the whole fitting was about to pull away from the lower longeron.

[flyguy]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Hope that wasn't a signed-off flying aircraft.
DC

[bashibazouk]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Yes, it was a signed-off and flying (very nicely) aircraft. In fact, I had new struts installed before flying it back from College Station, TX to Eastern North Carolina. It's the sort of thing I might suspect would be caught when the struts were replaced or during the annual-- but then again the bad plug wires weren't caught either, so there you have it.

Nobody else thinks the extra hole (facing the camera) looks like it was mis-punched? I agree that the ones further inside look elongated, but the one on the outside looks like it was punched from the back and then re-punched-- not that it matters. Still needs to be fixed. I just can't figure out why the hole is stepped the way it is. If an accident (ground loop or whatever) had compressed the rear strut, I'd expect to see the extra hole, but I'd expect it to be big enough for the bolt to fit in, too.

I'm not home now so I'm working with photos I took a couple of days ago-- this one's out of focus, but it shows the bolt inserted in the fitting. The main hole is 5/16"!



Depending on the browser you are using, these may need to be clicked on once they've loaded to show the full-sized and more horrific versions.

Here is the full-sized photo.

Here is the full-sized photo of the inner side of the fitting boss.

Here is what the backside of the rear-most boss looks like.

Thanks for the analysis and discussion.

Josh

[rcefird]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Josh
Send me a Private message. I and another taylorcraft are near you--in the Raleigh area (EAST OF rALEIGH).

Randy

[bashibazouk]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Okay, one other question:

assuming the fitting needs to be replaced, who here has done that?

How the heck do you go about doing that without building a new fuselage around the new fitting? Anyone have a copy of the Taylorcraft procedure for lift strut fitting replacement handy they'd like to paraphrase?

Thanks,

Josh

[Doc]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Josh: My heart sank when I saw your postings...I had seen this airplane in College Station, TX and passed on it...it has an interesting history. The owner prior to you had no practical working mechanical knowledge of the T-Craft, and relied upon local "experts" to advise and inform him. As you know, your airplane was built up from two airframes (I have the other airframe and various wing components which were found in a barn in TX, and cheaply procurred for "parts" through an indifferent 3rd party). BTW, that is how I made contact with the gentleman you purchased from. My "parts" fuselage has considerable forward cockpit frame damage, and probably had the original data plate from which your bird was resurrected. I believe the strut attach fittings are fine and the entire cluster could be cut out for reinstallation in your frame by a qualified welder. When you called regarding the ignition wire problem prior to your trip home, I was quite surprised this was missed on the annual inspection prior to your purchase. Obviously, there are other items that have been missed - the 1B90 installation comes to mind if you do not have a 337 on it. If you would like to discuss procurring an attach fitting cluster from my derelict fuselage, e-mail me at [email protected] as I would be happy to help. For the moment, I would suggest that you seek advice from an aviation welder regarding your repair or replacement options. You might also wish to discuss this with the IA in College Station who signed off the strut replacement and attach fitting ADs. Best Wishes. Doc

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

It appears that the person who installed the new struts may have pounded the bolt into position with a mallet and caused the damage. Note how the metal is splayed outward around the lower right portion of the damaged hole - consistent with being walloped with a drift. This could easily happen if someone had difficulty getting the hole alignment correct.

It is impossible that the person who installed the strut would not have seen this damage.

[Guest]

Re: Pix of Strut Fitting Oddity

Yes, it was a signed-off and flying (very nicely) aircraft. In fact, I had new struts installed before flying it back from College Station, TX to Eastern North Carolina. It's the sort of thing I might suspect would be caught when the struts were replaced or during the annual-- but then again the bad plug wires weren't caught either, so there you have it.

Nobody else thinks the extra hole (facing the camera) looks like it was mis-punched? I agree that the ones further inside look elongated, but the one on the outside looks like it was punched from the back and then re-punched-- not that it matters. Still needs to be fixed. I just can't figure out why the hole is stepped the way it is. If an accident (ground loop or whatever) had compressed the rear strut, I'd expect to see the extra hole, but I'd expect it to be big enough for the bolt to fit in, too.

I'm not home now so I'm working with photos I took a couple of days ago-- this one's out of focus, but it shows the bolt inserted in the fitting. The main hole is 5/16"!



Depending on the browser you are using, these may need to be clicked on once they've loaded to show the full-sized and more horrific versions.

Here is the full-sized photo.

Here is the full-sized photo of the inner side of the fitting boss.

Here is what the backside of the rear-most boss looks like.

Thanks for the analysis and discussion.

Josh

I think I see 3 cracks now with your better pictures. However the 3 cracks can be repaired I have 337 that can get you started on that.

The extra hole can be repaired too.

But it looks and sounds like you need to do some more cleaning around that fitting and the other side I suspect this story is not yet over. I bet you find the same cracks on the other side.

Dave