Well said Bud!!!
Jeff Roberts
Eagleville Marketing Group / www.eaglevillemarketing.com
615-355-7575 Office
615-406-8651 Cell
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"Not Advertising to save money is like stopping your clock to save
time."
On Oct 14, 2009, at 12:42 PM, Bud Yerly wrote:
> Fred,
> Here is my two cents as an average builder:
> Question 1
> - Is Mod 73 a required mod for any aircraft based outside of the-
> UK?...particularly in the US?
> My Comment:
> The US declares you are the builder of the aircraft.- You may modify
> or choose not to modify your kit...It is your decision as the builder,
> as the kit manufacturer is a 49% helper,-but you are the builder.-
> Just as if you built the plane from scratch.- It is highly
recommended
> that all ADs/mandatory actions directed by your kit-manufacturer-be
> followed.- If the UK's PFA or LAA grounds their planes, technically
> you don't have to ground your experimental, but as-some kit
> manufacturers have-found, the FAA can-ground a kit if it believes
> losses are occurring due to design problems or recommended/directed
> construction procedures...- Your plane is an experimental, each is
> technically different and the rules for FAA involvement in monitoring
> the accidents, as in certified aircraft, does not receive the same
> scrutiny...- SLSA/ELSA have different rules like certified aircraft.
> -
> Question 2
> - If not, why implement Mod 73 when there is no evidence that a-
> problem with the original design exists?
> My comment:- This is a builder/maintainer issue.- All builders are
not
> created equal nor is care always taken putting the tailplanes on and
> off.- Occasionally, the tailplanes are never taken off and rust
on.--
> When taken off for inspections, so much force is used, the inner and
> or outer bearing may be loosened and or broken loose and missed by the
> owner.- I have also seen that in their maintenance exuberance,
owners
> have-sprayed oil-into the stab holes and melted all the foam away
---From
> the bearings leaving only glass to support the outer bearing.-
Believe
> it or not some of the pip pin holes are so sloppy, pins can fall out
> and other methods are used to secure the pin and tail plane...-
> -
> If built and maintained properly, you may never have a problem, but
> the Mod 73 tailplane mod, adds extra glass and support to ensure your
> outer bearing is solidly glassed and in fact glassed more solidly.-
> Down side is you may need a longer pip pin.- Oh well.- Go to
McMaster
> Carr.
> -
> Question 3
> - Is Mod 73 an example of a prematurely arrived at "fix", approved
and-
> implemented in a rush to get the Europa fleet airborne again before-
> the real culprit was determined...and...does it remain in effect
today-
> out of a reluctance of regulatory agencies to set things right?
> Comment:
> Yes and no.
> It is a quick and necessary bandaid to get the fleet flying abroad and
> properly inspect the fleet.
> I would prefer to see all of us to use the Europa Club mod of a tube
> of glass supporting both bearings.- This is a great mod, in my
> opinion, and should be the standard.- The NG control surfaces bond
in
> the bearings much more securely...Dare I say properly.- But the
> bandaid of outer bearing reinforcement is a great way of getting more
> support around the bearing and checking the fleet.-
> -
> The problem with the accident investigations is the cart and horse.-
> What caused Williams accident for sure?- He had two problems, both
> should have been caught and fixed during the build and through
> subsequent inspections.- The tail plane wobble is a point I harp on
> constantly, that the stab should have no movement when attached.-
Yes,
> I disagree with wallowing out the tube to allow the movement.- Andy
> and I have never seen-eye to eye on this, but it doesn't hurt
anything
> and should flutter begin, the outer bearing is free to move a little.-
> Dare-I say any flutter is BAD,-and now you see why I disagree.-
> -
> I have only found two flying aircraft with tailplane bearings broken
> here-at the shop.- But I have done all the tailplanes IAW the
mods,
> because I believe it makes for a better product, and it is easy to
> sell a plane with all the mods properly documented.
> -
> As an accident investigator in a prior life, we all die a little when
> we loose a fellow aviator.- It is our mission not to bury our loss
by
> saying it-can't happen to me, but to try to make the aircraft,
> procedures, or training better to save not just ourselves, but others
> who come after us so they don't have to experience our loss.-
> -
> Just my thoughts.
> -
> Bud Yerly
> -
>
>
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