aileron rigging?

[jgerard]

I am trying to solve my "high right aileron in flight" problem. The plane seems to fly hands off quite well but the right aileron T.E. is about 3/4" above the rest of the T.E. while the left side all lines up perfectly. I adjusted the cables so that both ailerons are level with the yoke centered, took it for a test flight and the yoke is now off center to the left during level flight and the right aileron is up while the left one is perfectly level??? Flys the same, the ailerons are doing the same thing, but the yoke is off. My right aileron outer tip does not line up well with the tip of the wing and I think there is some aerodynamic issue causing it to lift in flight and find it's natural center. If I center the yoke the plane starts turning right. On the ground I don't feel much difference in slop when lifting on the ailerons at the wing. At first I thought it may be some slop in the push-rod from the bell-crank to the aileron but both sides seem the same. I don't think it's a washout problem but I will check that next. I also noticed that one aileron travels down farther than the other one? what sets the up and down travel of these things? Are the control stops in the column somewhere. I forgot to look while I was still at the plane. I don't think I have the proper right aileron for a BC12D, it's tapered on both the upper and lower sides at the tip instead of just one taper on the lower side like my left aileron. This double taper causes the tip of the right aileron to sit below the tip of the wing 1" when the aileron is level. This also creates quite a gap from the last hinge out to the tip between the cove and the leading edge of the aileron unlike the left wing.

Jason
N43643

[lktiller]

Reckon the aileron was built with the ribs upside down!?
I suppose the aileron spar could be warped or cracked. That would be noticeable.

[alwaysoar]

ailerons

Can you send pictures showing what you mean by taper? Have you made any adjustments to the screws in your aft struts, or tried to?

Ed @BTV VT
TF 527

[jgerard]

Here are some pics of my right aileron and the gap. The more I look at it the T.E. is not straight, the inboard section is slightly warped up.

Jason
N43643

[jgerard]

pic #2

[jgerard]

here's a nother one

[jgerard]

one more

[lktiller]

The trailing edge of the aileron is definitely warped. That could make for some surprises approaching stall speed.

I have the matching left aileron on my '41 t-craft!!!
When I removed the fabric it looked like a truck had driven thru the wing. All ribs had been broken. Aluminum wrapped around the break and pop-riveted in place. Very, very poor repair job.

I suggest cutting an inspection hole and check for warped aileron spar and bent or broken ribs.

[Hank Jarrett]

That really does look strange. when you flex the aileron tip up and down are there any "funny" sounds or flexability? I would think a look inside would really be a good idea. See if you can get someone to loan you a borescope. You will only need a little 1/4" hole to stick it through that will be really easy to patch after you are done. If you get a really small one you may even be able to lace it through the drain holes in the lower TE. I had a neighbor that had one and fell in love with it. He moved and I found out what they cost. YEOW!!!! I got to find another friend with one to borrow!
Hank

[barnstmr]

From your pictures, it looks to me like your aileron is not the correct one. I noticed in the parts catalog that the ailerons were unchanged on all the B-series airplanes. And that double taper on yours does not look like the ailerons on our airplane (BC-65). Didn't somebody post on here that the double taper matches another model... perhaps the D-series? Just askin.
Since the airplane flys well, I wouldn't go changing the wash-out/wash-in. If I were you, I would be on the lookout for another aileron... or send that one to Harry Ingram at the factory for rebuild in their jig.

[alwaysoar]

aileron rigging

Jason,
Without cutting a hole, you can look inside along the front side of the spar at the cut outs. You can tell pretty easily if the spars are cracked or not. It is very easy to patch a small hole and can be done by the owner if "small" enough if you decide to cut a hole--is it ceconite?. It also looks as if the tip bow might have twisted which could happen if the end of the bow is corroded where it fits into the trailing edge and if the screws have worked loose in the wooden tip rib. Can you move the tip bow up and down at all? Is your fabric wrinkled along the tip--can't tell from the pics?

If when you work the aileron tips etc and don't find any give or don't see cracks when you look inside, then probably you should just keep flying it or decide to do a rebuild. Crispy Critter offered me a set of ailerons with new cover and 337 at a fair price. I rebuilt mine last winter. New spars, new cover, a couple of butt ribs, and new tip bows cost me about $400 doing my own labor--a lot of labor. My guess is if you had it done by an A&P it would cost about $1500 DEPENDING on the condition of the ribs.

Good luck.

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[Forrest Barber]

When recovering it is IMPORTANT that you align the aileron hinges with shims on the rear spar, then have the trailing edges ( aileron & wing) be perfectly straight when the wing is "washed out" prior to cover. All this is jigged at the factory ( if they know how to do this) then cover her and keep the alignment as good as possible...... probably nothing can be done short of complete rebuild & recover...... That is why I am so insistent that the A&P & IA know what they are doing during these rebuild projects....
Finally back and on board again.... big Aeronca Fly-in this week-end here in Alliance. www.oaafly-in.com

[Len Petterson]

Aileron rigging

Is it true what you get better performence/speed with the ailerons rigged so what the trailing edge of aileron is above the wing trailing edge?
What happens to stall speed if they are rigged high?
CF KZU are rigged 1/2 lower then the wing trailing edge but even.
She flyies straigth and stallbrakes are straigth ahead.
Top speed 90mph indicated @ 2300 rpm prop is 74*45
Len Petterson

[lktiller]

Don't try to rig the ailerons above the wing trailing edge! 1/2 inch droop is perfect.
Better to adjust the strut to create wash-out. But don't do that without checking the complete wing alignment.

Correct wash-out makes the wings more stable, especially approaching stall. Incorrect washout is bad. One wing can stall first.