Thanks Nigel
While that is bad news it is also good news in that I'm only starting the
build so it shouldn't be too hard to fix compared with attempting to fix
when ready to fly.
I am in New Zealand and with our smaller population it is a little harder
to find people with the experience your inspectors have. We also have a
much simpler inspection regime.
I'll contact the Europa factory and get their advice on how to reinstate
the structure. Hopefully it will just be a matter of reinstating the
missing structure with a flat panel with an appropriate number of plys and
a suitable overlap/bonding to the edges.
On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 10:48 AM, nigel_graham@m-tecque.co.uk <
nigel_graham@m-tecque.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi Graeme,
>
> I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but that mod was not (and never
> will be) approved in the UK. The centre tunnel is a critical structural
> component and by removing such a huge area of the box section, most of the
> strength will have been removed with it. If it is your intention to build
> the airframe to flying condition, I would suggest involving your inspector
> (one with proven composite skills) to advise on reconstructing the tunnel.
>
> The Europa has no longeron like structures forward of the seat moulding
> and it is only the tunnel that prevents the fuselage snapping off in the
> event of a high "G" arrival. Typically, the fracture initiates at the sharp
> corner at the lower edge of the windscreen, propagates down the fuselage
> sides and across the floor. I have attached a picture of such a failure to
> help concentrate the mind (I have more!).
>
> Nigel
>
>
> On 07/07/2016 21:51, Graeme Hart wrote:
>
> Hi Alan
>
> It is a trigear and came as a trigear from the factory.
>
> It looks to me like the plan was to put a removable panel on the top.
>
> I have attached a better picture.
> On 7/07/2016 11:14 pm, "Alan Burrill" <alanb@dpy01.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>> Tri-Gear or Monowheel?
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> GOBJT
>> > On 7 Jul 2016, at 11:35, Graeme Hart <graeme.hart@onecoolkat.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi All
>> >
>> > I have a kit that started out around 1999 and has been worked on by a
>> number of builder since them.
>> >
>> > Does anyone recognise the mod that has been done to the cockpit. A lot
>> of the top of the centre console has been cut out and reinforced around the
>> edges.
>> >
>> > I'm hoping that this is a recognised mod and someone can point me at
>> documentation on what was intended.
>> >
>> > A picture of part of the cutout section is below (sorry I don't have
>> one of the entire cutout)
>> >
>> > I'd appreciate any leads on how this mod is intended to work. Also,
>> with this large hole in the top do you still need the fuel valve access
>> panel?
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > Graeme
>> > <20160705_174300.jpg>
>>
>>
>
>
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