xray struts

[Jim Lauden]

my 46 BC-12D is in Eastern Pa. and i need to know the nearest location of an xray tech, to do my struts. i read on this forum that it has been done in ca. without removing the struts. but haven't seen anything on the forum indicating that this procedure has been done in the pa. region. if you xray with the struts on the ac, how do you do the inside oil treatment? also, is the attach fitting xrayed at the same time as the struts? thanks in advance.

[bashibazouk]

Re: xray struts

Jim-

not sure what your best bet will be in finding a local person to do an X-ray inspection of your struts. A Google search of "non-destructive testing Pennsylvania" turned up a couple of places around Pittsburgh, specifically a company called NDT that has a branch there. Without having contacted them, I suspect that they are a pretty big operation. I would think that finding someone with access to the equipment and the knowhow who is also an old plane nut would be the way to go.

Looking at the Service Bulletin on the struts as published by the factory, it looks like they need to be removed regardless of which technique you use. It's really not that big a deal to take them off, provided you have a good, sheltered place to do it and some appropriate props (ladders work, as do the 2x4 supports I built) to support the wings and a sawhorse for the tail.

As far as the fitting inspection goes, you can find the Service Bulletin for that inspection on the Taylorcraft Factory website, too. While it might be possible to comply with the AD with the struts in place, it would be easier to just follow the steps in the bulletin and take 'em off. This is a visual inspection procedure, looking for physical evidence of corrosion and cracking. I'm not a testing expert, but I don't think the added expense of an X-ray would be warranted here.

Take a moment to read the Service Bulletins. Maybe I'm all wet.

Best of luck and let us know how you come out.

Josh

[Dan Michaels]

Re: xray struts

my 46 BC-12D is in Eastern Pa. and i need to know the nearest location of an xray tech, to do my struts. i read on this forum that it has been done in ca. without removing the struts. but haven't seen anything on the forum indicating that this procedure has been done in the pa. region. if you xray with the struts on the ac, how do you do the inside oil treatment? also, is the attach fitting xrayed at the same time as the struts? thanks in advance.

I am taking mine to Stork Twin City Testing this morning. They have a place in Newton PA also. http://www.storksmt.com/tct

Dan

[Forrest Barber]

Re: xray struts

Which came first the chicken or the egg , , IF not for the attach fitting inspection they can be done on the ship ; HOWEVER then they must be filled way up with fluid. The best way is take them off; ultrasound is cheaper, X-ray is not necessary. Results are published on a separate thread. Let us know....

[KewFlyer]

Re: xray struts

Jim:
I did mine in Northern Virginia, just south of Wash DC. If you fly into Warrenton VA (KHWY) I can help you remove them, take you and the wing struts over to the Xray office, drive back, install them and send you home. I paid around $300 for all four including a report which I have included in the plane's paperwork binder. Let me know if I can help. REgarding the strut attachement, I can have the A&P-IA to do it for you while we do the Xrays. He can also do the log book entries for you. Let me know
Ralph