Hi Alan,
I think you are asking where to look for damage on TRI Gear Europas
following heavy landing/s?
1. MAIN GEAR. Look for any disruption/delamination of layups within the
fuselage in the areas of the undercarriage sockets (ie in the area just
behind the fuel tank usually covered with some form of decking material for
baggage). If there is damage here it will need repairing before further
flight. The most likely damage on main gear is a bent leg. Fortunately in a
well built aircraft the leg will bend before doing structural fuselage
damage as above. Usually obvious if you park you're a/c on flat level hard
surface and then view it from front or rear. Since it is probable that one
leg will be more or less bent than the other a lopsided stance of your
aircraft will be a big clue.
With the weight OFF the wheels check that no rotation of the leg is
possible. Ie where the leg enters the fuselage it is not possible to rotate
it at all. If you can, it could be due to damage in the area at the top of
the U/C sockets. There is a shear bolt which could shear or damage the
alligment hole at the top of the socket.
2 NOSE GEAR The first thing that usually bends is the spindle of the Nose
wheel yolk. Ie the shaft that rotates within the Nose leg itself when the
nose wheel steers left or right. To check this remove the fairing that
covers the nose wheel steering shimmy damper adjusting nut, then view from
the side and note any non parallel gap in the area of the shimmy damper
friction pad.
The nose leg itself can bend. Remove the leg fairing from the nose leg and
check for straightness using a straight edge. SHOULD BE STRAIGHT.
Beyond the above a thorough check all round the aircraft is essential.
Engine bearers can get bent and distorted. Fuselage structural damage can
occur. IT ALL DEPENDS HOW HEAVY WAS THE LANDING???
These are just a few tips but are not exhaustive. Look look and look again.
Pete Jeffers Europa Club LAA rep
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Alan Carter
Sent: 24 July 2012 01:12
Subject: Europa-List: Heavy Landing on Tri Gear.
Hello All.
I am new to flying a Europa and don,t know what to look for in picking up
damage from a Heavy Landing, I have seen some quite hard landing by some
Europa,s.
So besides the obvious, Undercarriage missing, or all shattered where the
main gear enters the fuselage, Is there any small tell tell features that
will identify a heavy landing on the Tri Gears main gear.
Also if you find one of these features how do you check it out , that it is,
or is not due to a heavy landing.
Many thanks
Alan
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=379029#379029
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