Got *that* call today...

YIKES!

Ummmm..Cezznas don't really fly very well without these bolts..

Dave


On Wed, 5 Mar 2008 16:32:52 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

On Mar 4, 8:17 pm, Scott Skylane wrote:

And the wing strut lower attach
bolts had no nuts on them and were backing out. All this just after an
"annual." A drive-by annual, I think.

Dan

karl mcgruber wrote:



wrote in message
...

On Mar 4, 8:17 pm, Scott Skylane wrote:

Actually, that's an aftermarket mod, never was a factory option.


185s had them. Factory, I think.

Both 180s and 185s had them from the factory. BTW, Bud (BAS) passed last
year. GREAT guy.

"Curator" Skywagon 185

To clarify my un-clear post, I was referring only to 182's. Sorry to
hear about Bud.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane

On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:32:52 -0800, Dan_Thomas_nospam wrote:
The OP should know that the SB says that cracks that do not reach
the spar flange radius can be stopdrilled and monitored. His mechanic
should take a close look at the SB again. The amount he flies, they
might go no farther.

I should have obtained a copy of the SB but I've been way too busy this
week to deal with this. Still haven't seen the cracks myself, but my
partner in the airplane is a professional photographer and he took some
pictures of them yesterday. I should have them soon.

From my IA's description, the cracks radiate from the edge of the
lightening hole about 1" each. Not sure if they reach the flange
radius. I'll call him and ask.

Thanks for the info.

Doug
http://www.dvatp.com/

On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:00:14 +0000, Doug Vetter wrote:
Well, the 172 went into annual this Monday.

A follow-up on this topic:

Saw the cracks today -- well, pictures of them anyway, as the stabilizer
itself is well on its way to the repair facility.

The cracks don't reach the spar flange. If the information provided by
Dan is correct I suppose the cracks could have been stop-drilled. But
the cracks weren't the only problem -- the spar is buckled in that area
as well. That is particularly surprising given that the area is already
doubled up. The crack penetrated both layers.

I still can't be 100% sure of how or when the damage occurred but to my
admittedly untrained eye it appears to be the result of an asymmetrical
load, as would be the case if someone applied a force to one side of the
horizontal stabilizer to move the airplane. If the damage was caused by
a flight load I would expect the cracks and buckling to take the form of
a triangle like /\ or \/ depending on the direction of the load, rather
than the angled (/) nature of this damage. Perhaps someone with a
mechanical or aeronautical engineering background could shed some light
on my hypothesis.

In any case, the "real" damage appears to be 1.2 AMUs for the repair,
plus any painting required. Interestingly, an outright exchange
horizontal stabilizer was quoted as 3.2 AMUs, so I'm glad we went the
repair route.

On another note, the flap skins (being done by the same shop) will
reportedly run a "mere" 0.8 AMUs, but the flap will definitely need to be
painted and we're not yet sure how best to approach that. Two basic
options: take it to an aircraft refinisher and have it shot with the
original Jet-Glo, or take it to a trusted auto body shop and shoot it
with a base coat / clear coat system. The Jet-Glo will probably produce
a better result, but at substantially higher cost.

On the plus side, we also got the prop back with the new hub installed.
The design improvements are substantial and obvious. I would say to
anyone on the fence about the hub upgrade -- just do it. Expensive, yes,
but it beats the odd chance of throwing a blade. Compare the new and old
hubs in my gallery:

http://www.dvatp.com/gallery/

Thanks to all who responded to the thread.

Doug
http://www.dvatp.com/

On Mar 8, 4:10 pm, Doug Vetter wrote:
I still can't be 100% sure of how or when the damage occurred but to my
admittedly untrained eye it appears to be the result of an asymmetrical
load, as would be the case if someone applied a force to one side of the
horizontal stabilizer to move the airplane. If the damage was caused by
a flight load I would expect the cracks and buckling to take the form of
a triangle like /\ or \/ depending on the direction of the load, rather
than the angled (/) nature of this damage. Perhaps someone with a
mechanical or aeronautical engineering background could shed some light
on my hypothesis.

Either someone push down well out on the stab, or some twerp
sat his kid on the thing. That sort of thing happens, especially at
airshows or fly-ins where the non-aviation public is allowed near the
airplanes, or if the thing is tied down at some unfenced airport. I've
read stories of guys with their precious expensive aircraft having to
shoo people like that away, just because they're going to climb on or
let their kid climb on or set their kid on the airplane. I wonder how
they'd react if you climbed on their nice cars?
Anyhoo, if the spar is buckled it's not airworthy regardless of
any cracking.

Dan

On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:00:14 +0000, Doug Vetter wrote:
And then I got the call.

Cracks in the spar of the horizontal stabilizer.

Just figured I'd post a follow-up to this thread. Our horizontal stab
and flap came back from the repair station recommended by our mechanic -
Williams Airmotive in Indiana.

Aside from a small communication problem with regard to payment, they
turned the parts around quickly. My estimate is that the parts took
three days to make the trip each way from NJ and they had the work done
in two days.

The fix to the horizontal stabilizer appears to be a new center section
that doubles the forward spar and binds it together farther outboard,
thus reducing the effects of any twisting moments. The skins are peeled
back only slightly, which means we'll only need to touch up the rivets --
we have been spared a costly repaint of the entire stabilizer. The flap,
of course, will need to be fully stripped and painted.

It may be another couple of weeks before we get the airplane back in
flyable condition, but all in all I'm glad we got this fixed. Williams'
cost for the horizontal stab was 1.3 AMUs while the flap was 0.9 AMUs,
including shipping. Paint for the flap will probably be 0.3 AMUs, and we
expect to paint the new rivet heads on the horizontal stab using a bottle
of touch up from the paint mixed for the flap. Should look as good as
new in a couple weeks.

Pictures are in the gallery:

http://www.dvatp.com/gallery/

Doug
http://www.dvatp.com/

jump seat in a 737?? sweeettt.........

‹(•¿•)›





On Mar 30, 7:28*am, Doug Vetter wrote:
On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:00:14 +0000, Doug Vetter wrote:
And then I got the call.

Cracks in the spar of the horizontal stabilizer.

Just figured I'd post a follow-up to this thread. *Our horizontal stab
and flap came back from the repair station recommended by our mechanic -
Williams Airmotive in Indiana.

Aside from a small communication problem with regard to payment, they
turned the parts around quickly. *My estimate is that the parts took
three days to make the trip each way from NJ and they had the work done
in two days.

The fix to the horizontal stabilizer appears to be a new center section
that doubles the forward spar and binds it together farther outboard,
thus reducing the effects of any twisting moments. *The skins are peeled
back only slightly, which means we'll only need to touch up the rivets --
we have been spared a costly repaint of the entire stabilizer. *The flap,
of course, will need to be fully stripped and painted.

It may be another couple of weeks before we get the airplane back in
flyable condition, but all in all I'm glad we got this fixed. *Williams'
cost for the horizontal stab was 1.3 AMUs while the flap was 0.9 AMUs,
including shipping. *Paint for the flap will probably be 0.3 AMUs, and we
expect to paint the new rivet heads on the horizontal stab using a bottle
of touch up from the paint mixed for the flap. *Should look as good as
new in a couple weeks.

Pictures are in the gallery:

http://www.dvatp.com/gallery/

Doughttp://www.dvatp.com/

some great shots there doug, in your aviation section...thanx !!!





~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
jump seat in a 737?? sweeettt.........

�(���)�





On Mar 30, 7:28�am, Doug Vetter wrote:
On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:00:14 +0000, Doug Vetter wrote:
And then I got the call.

Cracks in the spar of the horizontal stabilizer.

Just figured I'd post a follow-up to this thread. �Our horizontal stab
and flap came back from the repair station recommended by our mechanic -
Williams Airmotive in Indiana.

Aside from a small communication problem with regard to payment, they
turned the parts around quickly. �My estimate is that the parts took
three days to make the trip each way from NJ and they had the work done
in two days.

The fix to the horizontal stabilizer appears to be a new center section
that doubles the forward spar and binds it together farther outboard,
thus reducing the effects of any twisting moments. �The skins are peeled
back only slightly, which means we'll only need to touch up the rivets --
we have been spared a costly repaint of the entire stabilizer. �The flap,
of course, will need to be fully stripped and painted.

It may be another couple of weeks before we get the airplane back in
flyable condition, but all in all I'm glad we got this fixed. �Williams'
cost for the horizontal stab was 1.3 AMUs while the flap was 0.9 AMUs,
including shipping. �Paint for the flap will probably be 0.3 AMUs, and we
expect to paint the new rivet heads on the horizontal stab using a bottle
of touch up from the paint mixed for the flap. �Should look as good as
new in a couple weeks.

Pictures are in the gallery:

http://www.dvatp.com/gallery/

Doughttp://www.dvatp.com/

On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:44:48 -0700, ~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
jump seat in a 737?? sweeettt.........
some great shots there doug, in your aviation section...thanx !!!

Yea, that was a present from some old-timer buddies for getting my ATP.
Couldn't have asked for a more appropriate gift.

Glad you enjoyed the pics.

Doug
http://www.dvatp.com/

Pictures are in the gallery:

http://www.dvatp.com/gallery/

Hey, I had a "bag phone" just like that one in your photo gallery, bolted to
the floor of my van!

They may have been primitive by today's standards, but I'll tell you what:
The sound quality was a thousand times better than the digital crap we have
nowadays.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"