Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:24:23
Well, this really puts the cat amongst the pigeons. I have just spent a day upgrading the pins in the tailplane torque so I could continue flying. Not the nicest job in the world (unless you are a mi
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:14:59
Hi guys, I spoke to Andy Draper yesterday before the new directive was issued. He told me it would be coming out though he didnt divulge the contents (nor did we discuss the PFA's ongoing investigati
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:51:35
Several Europa pilots have commented on the fact that my pip pins are a loose fit in the torque tube and advised I should drill them properly and fit oversize pins. Fortunately I never got round to i
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:04:09
We removed the tailplane supports from the trailer the day it arrived. We knew from others that this could cause the TP5 bond to break. They have always been carried in the back of the car (on blanke
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:01:46
It isnt a matter of keeping people in the dark but of arriving at the correct conclusion. IMHO it is far better to say nothing than to arrive at a flawed judgement. And as for this being a British ph
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:35:05
There is a slight misunderstanding regarding where the wear in the "torque tube assembly" occurrs. The torque tube itself is a hardened (possibly crome moly) steel. Having just implemented Mod 62 we
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:48:24
The final alignment could be checked by trial fitting the torque assembly using the shank of a 3/8" drill. The factory supplied pins are a couple of thou oversize which is probably deliberate. Fortun
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:53:03
For what its worth, I believe the cause of this accident has nothing to do with "wear" in the tailplane assemblies. I base my "theory" on the simple fact that many Europas have flown many flying hour
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:08:42
Im not saying we shouldnt be concerned about the amount of slop in the tailplanes. The PFA's current limit of 1/2 inch would seem to be reasonable. We checked ours last week - as soon as we recieved
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:53:06
Hey guys, were on the same side - arent we? The PFA are on our side too in case anyone thought otherwise! I agree they are doing a lot of guessing but at least its educated as opposed to the speculat
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 17:17:41
It seems that this is an area where gascolators score over fuel filters. Our gascolator is a cheap aviation kit type filter with a metal bowl and drain valve at the bottom. The fine gauze filter is a
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 19:07:57
Sorry, but I dont think it was branded - I bought it from a company called Skycraft here in the UK. I just looked in the 2003-2004 Spruce catalog and there is an ACS Gascolator (Homebuilders Special)
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 19:17:54
OK - it would seem that Auto Fuel attacks the rubber seal in that particular unit. Now that you come to mention it there is a degree of swelling in the gasket each time we dismantle it (about once a
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 19:27:48
And here would seem is the evidence "28 gallons of fuel on the hangar floor" http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=115677&sid=e58bbc9d415735 15c9bc20686e9000ff But as I said before "why dont th
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 19:32:19
Possibly more of a worry is the gasket leaking and allowing air to be sucked into the fuel system and cause fuel starvation. Still I guess that if the aircraft isnt leaking fuel all over the hangar f
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 20:30:42
Hi Peter, What is your gasket made from? In ignorance we have been flying around with a "suspect" gasket and no ill effects so far (5 years and 150hrs). Can any one with an understanding of fuel comp
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 21:04:38
Carl, Thank you for your prompt response. You say: All I can say is that we use exclusively automotive unleaded fuel in ours and have done so for 5 years with no problems. We cant/ dont use leaded or
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 21:08:06
My understanding is that the proposed modifications will be phased in over a period of time - eg: within the next ten hours (operating time). The million dollar question is how long it will take to m
Author: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:10:43
Does anybody know the exact diameter of the tailplane torque tube (ours is circa 1994 - Kit 49). In the absence of a torque tube I would have thought a piece of Jewsons drainpipe built up (to the cor