Rmi Guerner wrote:
> Graham and Mike, I agree. Mod 73 is a very poor fix for
> a bad design. I like the idea of he single tube with a
> flange. I am also concerned about relying on a single
> pip pin to secure the tail plane to the aircraft. As
> there is no way to visually check that the pip pin is
> fully engaged and the balls are protruding below TP6
This is not true. If the balls are not correctly released
---From the side of the pip pin the button will have free
longitudinal movement without any springing effect.
> pull test would be highly desirable. A special plier
> would be needed for that pull test. Alternatively, a
> big recess on the underside of the tail plane would
> allow an uneasy visual inspection with a flashlight.
> The rear wing pip pin can be checked that way. Moreover
> I like the idea of a back up tail plane locking device
> such as the spring loaded lever.
Jos made the point. Hundreds of Europas have flown tens of
thousands of hours without any previous sign of any
serious problems in the elevator fixing.
The AAIB have NOT yet reported (the interim report said
nothing) and it may not have been the TP6 that was the
primary cause of the accident.
Why go for belt, braces and piece of string solutions to a
problem that may not exist ?
Any long term fix should be required not instantly but in
the course of a reasonable period. But we do need a final
solution not a series of solutions, each more onerous and
complicated and expensive than the previous.
Richard Holder
G-OWWW High Cross
|